gossipmongers
Those spreading hearsay
Gossipmongers are people who habitually spread gossip—rumors, personal information, and idle talk about others.
The word carries disapproval, suggesting someone who actively trades in other people's business: The gossipmongers had a field day with news of the affair.
A gossipmonger is one such person.
Those who reveal secrets
- blabbermouthsThose who divulge secrets
- busybodiesThose who interfere uninvited
- tattlersThose who reveal secrets
- yentasIntrusive, talkative meddlers
rumormongers · snoops · newsmongers · chatterboxes · meddlers · informants · telltales · scandalmongers
Unverified secondhand information
- speculationUnproven theorizing or risky investment
- innuendoOblique disparaging remark
- tittle-tattleTrivial, idle chatter
- scuttlebuttInformal rumor or speculation
buzz · canard · whispers · grapevine · unverified · secondhand · word-of-mouth · murmurs
Sensationalist newspaper format
- exposéInvestigative journalism piece
- sleazeTawdry moral quality
- notorietyFame from misdeeds
- infamyExtreme public disgrace
disgrace · impropriety · indiscretion · affair · controversy · smear · dirt · juicy
Spoken false defamation
- libelPrinted defamation
- defamationFalse statements harming reputation
- maliceIntent to cause harm
- backstabbingCovert betrayal of trust
betrayal · ostracism · cruelty · meanness · spite · vindictiveness · troublemaking · divisiveness
talebearers
Those who reveal secrets
- blabbermouthsThose who divulge secrets
- busybodiesThose who interfere uninvited
- tattlersThose who reveal secrets
yentas · rumormongers · snoops · newsmongers · chatterboxes · meddlers · informants · telltales · scandalmongers · magpies
hearsay
Unverified secondhand information
- speculationUnproven theorizing or risky investment
- innuendoOblique disparaging remark
- tittle-tattleTrivial, idle chatter
scuttlebutt · buzz · canard · whispers · grapevine · unverified · secondhand · word-of-mouth · murmurs · rumblings
tabloid
Sensationalist newspaper format
infamy · disgrace · impropriety · indiscretion · affair · controversy · smear · dirt · juicy · salacious
slander
Spoken false defamation
- libelPrinted defamation
- defamationFalse statements harming reputation
- maliceIntent to cause harm
backstabbing · betrayal · ostracism · cruelty · meanness · spite · vindictiveness · troublemaking · divisiveness · toxicity
gossipmongersconfidants
Trusted secret-keepers
trustees · vault · confessors · vaults · introverts
gossipmongerstruth-tellers
Those who state facts
straight shooters · honest brokers · journalists · whistleblowers · diplomats