gossiping
Trading juicy secrets
Gossiping is engaging in casual talk about other people's affairs, especially their private lives or rumored behavior.
The activity carries a negative connotation—spreading unverified information or trading in others' secrets: They spent the whole lunch gossiping about the new hire.
Gossiping can be idle entertainment or genuinely harmful, depending on intent and content.
Unverified secondhand information
- speculationUnproven theorizing or risky investment
- buzzContinuous low drone
- grapevineInformal gossip network
- innuendoOblique disparaging remark
conjecture · whispers · unconfirmed · word of mouth · scuttlebutt · talk of the town · loose lips · juicy details
Spiteful talk about others
- slanderSpoken false defamation
- libelPrinted defamation
- defamationFalse statements harming reputation
- smearSpread or defame
calumny · mudslinging · talebearing · rumormonger · badmouthing · character assassination · trash-talking · two-faced
Informal light conversation
- banterPlayful, teasing exchange
- natterLight, aimless conversation
- gabfestLong informal discussion
- chinwagInformal lengthy conversation
small talk · schmooze · confab · jaw · gab · blether · chitter-chatter · prattle
Speech without full voice
- hushedReduced to silence
- confidentialMeant to stay secret
- hush-hushHighly confidential matter
- between usShared in confidence
off the record · discreet · private · conspiratorial · furtive · covert · sotto voce · behind closed doors
Sensationalist newspaper format
- sensationalArousing intense excitement
- exposéInvestigative journalism piece
- notorietyFame from misdeeds
- disgraceLoss of honor
sleaze · indiscretion · impropriety · affair · cheating · infidelity · dirty laundry · skeleton in the closet
hearsay
Unverified secondhand information
- speculationUnproven theorizing or risky investment
- buzzContinuous low drone
- grapevineInformal gossip network
innuendo · conjecture · whispers · unconfirmed · word of mouth · scuttlebutt · talk of the town · loose lips · juicy details · dirt
backbiting
Spiteful talk about others
- slanderSpoken false defamation
- libelPrinted defamation
- defamationFalse statements harming reputation
smear · calumny · mudslinging · talebearing · rumormonger · badmouthing · character assassination · trash-talking · two-faced · catty
chitchat
Informal light conversation
chinwag · small talk · schmooze · confab · jaw · gab · blether · chitter-chatter · prattle · yak
whisper
Speech without full voice
- hushedReduced to silence
- confidentialMeant to stay secret
- hush-hushHighly confidential matter
between us · off the record · discreet · private · conspiratorial · furtive · covert · sotto voce · behind closed doors · in confidence
tabloid
Sensationalist newspaper format
- sensationalArousing intense excitement
- exposéInvestigative journalism piece
- notorietyFame from misdeeds
disgrace · sleaze · indiscretion · impropriety · affair · cheating · infidelity · dirty laundry · skeleton in the closet · bombshell
- interactionstalking, sharing, greeting, helping, listening
- bad behaviorcheating, stealing, lying, greed, selfishness
- bad behaviorslying, cheating, stealing, rudeness, laziness
- bad habitssmoking, drinking, lying, swearing, overeating
- pet peevesannoyance, loud chewing, irritation, loud talking, frustration
- slang behaviorsgoofing off, messing around, fooling around, horsing around, slacking
gossipingkeeping to oneself
Staying socially isolated
non-interference · giving space · detachment · disengagement
gossip, gossips, gossiper, gossiped, gossipy, gossipers, gossipmonger, gossipping