gossipmonger
Spreads others' secrets
A gossipmonger is someone who habitually spreads gossip—rumors, personal stories, and private information about others.
The term carries disapproval, suggesting someone who trades in other people's business: The office gossipmonger had already spread word of the affair.
The -monger suffix implies dealing or trafficking, as in warmonger or rumormonger.
Unverified secondhand information
- tittle-tattleTrivial, idle chatter
- chatterLight, rapid speech
- buzzContinuous low drone
- grapevineInformal gossip network
scoop · blabbermouth · innuendo · backbiting · tales · fabrication · misinformation · whisper
Spoken false defamation
- libelPrinted defamation
- defamationFalse statements harming reputation
- calumnyMalicious false statement
- maliciousMeaning to do harm
spite · vindictive · poison · venom · toxic · cruel · destructive · harmful
Speech without full voice
- secretsConcealed information
- confidentialMeant to stay secret
- furtiveSecretive and sly
- hushedReduced to silence
clandestine · covert · eavesdrop · private · discreet · quiet · murmur · hush-hush
Sensationalist newspaper format
- sensationalismOverhyped news coverage
- exposéInvestigative journalism piece
- notorietyFame from misdeeds
- infamyExtreme public disgrace
disgrace · dirt · smear · yellow journalism · paparazzi · scuttlebutt · mudslinging · reputation
hearsay
Unverified secondhand information
- tittle-tattleTrivial, idle chatter
- chatterLight, rapid speech
- buzzContinuous low drone
grapevine · scoop · blabbermouth · innuendo · backbiting · tales · fabrication · misinformation · whisper · tattle
slander
Spoken false defamation
- libelPrinted defamation
- defamationFalse statements harming reputation
- calumnyMalicious false statement
malicious · spite · vindictive · poison · venom · toxic · cruel · destructive · harmful · character assassination
whisper
Speech without full voice
- secretsConcealed information
- confidentialMeant to stay secret
- furtiveSecretive and sly
hushed · clandestine · covert · eavesdrop · private · discreet · quiet · murmur · hush-hush · behind closed doors
tabloid
Sensationalist newspaper format
- sensationalismOverhyped news coverage
- exposéInvestigative journalism piece
- notorietyFame from misdeeds
infamy · disgrace · dirt · smear · yellow journalism · paparazzi · scuttlebutt · mudslinging · reputation · shame
- nosy peoplebusybody, snoop, snooper, meddler, eavesdropper
- blabbermouthsblabbermouth, rumormonger, scandalmonger, talebearer, tattletale
- gossiprumor, rumors, hearsay, whisper, scuttlebutt
- mongerswarmonger, fearmonger, hatemonger, rumormonger, scandalmonger
- defamersdefamer, slanderer, libeler, calumniator, maligner
- troublemakingtroublemaker, troublemaking, instigate, agitator, instigating
gossipmongerconfidant
Trusted keeper of secrets
confidante · vault · trustee · private person · confessor