gossip
Unverified personal chatter
Gossip is casual talk about other people's private affairs, often speculative or judgmental: Have you heard the latest gossip?
The word covers both the activity and the person who engages in it: She's such a gossip.
To gossip is to share such talk: They gossiped about the neighbors for hours.
Gossip can be harmless social bonding or malicious rumor-spreading, depending on intent and content.
Unverified secondhand information
- whisperSpeech without full voice
- speculationUnproven theorizing or risky investment
- buzzContinuous low drone
- innuendoOblique disparaging remark
grapevine · scuttlebutt · canard · unsubstantiated · talk · insinuation · word on the street · unconfirmed
Intrusive meddler
- tattletaleOne who informs on others
- blabbermouthOne who reveals secrets
- snitchOne who tells authorities
- rumormongerOne who spreads unverified talk
yenta · scandalmonger · telltale · bigmouth · squealer · nosy · meddler · newsmonger
Informal light conversation
- small talkPolite trivial conversation
- gabLight, meaningless talk
- natterLight, aimless conversation
- prattleTrivial, prolonged speech
babble · tittle-tattle · yak · jaw · banter · schmooze · confab · blather
Meant to stay secret
- privateRestricted to certain parties
- hush-hushHighly confidential matter
- insiderOne with confidential access
- discreetCareful to avoid notice
eavesdrop · snoop · leak · whispered · off the record · between us · in confidence · spill the beans
Aggressive celebrity photographers
- celebrityWidely recognized public figure
- sensationalismOverhyped news coverage
- scoopFirst-reported story
- exclusiveLimited to one group
headlines · yellow journalism · muckraking · rag · blind item · TMZ · infotainment · tea
Spoken false defamation
- libelPrinted defamation
- smearSpread or defame
- backbitingSpiteful talk about others
- mudslingingMalicious personal attacks
character assassination · badmouthing · trash-talking · malicious · disparagement · vilification · calumny · aspersion
Romantic entanglement outside commitment
- indiscretionUnwise act or remark
- improprietyUnsuitable or inappropriate behavior
- exposéInvestigative journalism piece
- dirtLoose dry earth
juicy · salacious · shocking · disgrace · controversy · outrage · misconduct · infamy
hearsay
Unverified secondhand information
- whisperSpeech without full voice
- speculationUnproven theorizing or risky investment
- buzzContinuous low drone
innuendo · grapevine · scuttlebutt · canard · unsubstantiated · talk · insinuation · word on the street · unconfirmed · spreading
busybody
Intrusive meddler
- tattletaleOne who informs on others
- blabbermouthOne who reveals secrets
- snitchOne who tells authorities
rumormonger · yenta · scandalmonger · telltale · bigmouth · squealer · nosy · meddler · newsmonger
chitchat
Informal light conversation
- small talkPolite trivial conversation
- gabLight, meaningless talk
- natterLight, aimless conversation
prattle · babble · tittle-tattle · yak · jaw · banter · schmooze · confab · blather · cackle
confidential
Meant to stay secret
- privateRestricted to certain parties
- hush-hushHighly confidential matter
- insiderOne with confidential access
discreet · eavesdrop · snoop · leak · whispered · off the record · between us · in confidence · spill the beans · loose-lipped
paparazzi
Aggressive celebrity photographers
- celebrityWidely recognized public figure
- sensationalismOverhyped news coverage
- scoopFirst-reported story
exclusive · headlines · yellow journalism · muckraking · rag · blind item · TMZ · infotainment · tea · spilling tea
slander
Spoken false defamation
- libelPrinted defamation
- smearSpread or defame
- backbitingSpiteful talk about others
mudslinging · character assassination · badmouthing · trash-talking · malicious · disparagement · vilification · calumny · aspersion · cattiness
affair
Romantic entanglement outside commitment
- indiscretionUnwise act or remark
- improprietyUnsuitable or inappropriate behavior
- exposéInvestigative journalism piece
dirt · juicy · salacious · shocking · disgrace · controversy · outrage · misconduct · infamy · notoriety
- social interactionshello, goodbye, talk, nod, chat
- ways to communicatechat, announcement, broadcast, small talk, lecture
- Communication channelsdiscussion, newsletter, debate, bulletin board, town hall
- difficult peopleegomaniac, egotist, nitpicker, drama queen, control freak
- friendship activitieshanging out, chatting, texting, phone calls, video calls
- gossiprumor, rumors, hearsay, whisper, scuttlebutt
gossipfact
Verifiable piece of information
truth · actuality · hard news · certainty · official record
gossippress release
Official statement for media
news report · bulletin · communiqué · proclamation · reportage
gossipdiscretion
Careful judgment in speech
confidentiality · silence · secrecy · privacy · reticence
- gossip columnPublished celebrity chatter
- gossip magazinesPublications covering celebrity scandals
- office gossipWorkplace rumor sharing
- gossip columnistJournalist covering celebrity rumors
- gossip millInformal rumor circulation system
- workplace gossipInformal office chatter
gossiping, gossips, gossiper, gossiped, gossipy, gossipers, gossipmonger, gossipfests, gossipiest