gossipping
Sharing others' secrets
Gossipping is an alternate spelling of gossiping—talking about other people's private affairs, often speculatively or judgmentally.
The single-p spelling is standard, but the doubled-p variant appears frequently enough to be acceptable: She spent the afternoon gossipping with the neighbors.
Unconfirmed circulating story
- whisperSpeech without full voice
- chitchatInformal light conversation
- grapevineInformal gossip network
- hearsayUnverified secondhand information
busybody · clique · coffee klatch · neighborhood · coworker · water cooler · hen party · tea spilling
Spiteful talk about others
- slanderSpoken false defamation
- defamationFalse statements harming reputation
- mudslingingMalicious personal attacks
- character assassinationDestroying someone's good name
smear · betrayal · two-faced · backstabbing · rumormongering · scandal · innuendo · poison
Sensationalist newspaper format
- paparazziAggressive celebrity photographers
- TMZCelebrity news outlet
- scandalDisgraceful public affair
- affairRomantic entanglement outside commitment
breakup · hookup · feud · drama · exposé · blind item · insider · source
Power dynamics at work
- water coolerChilled beverage dispenser
- HREmployee management department
- promotionRank increase or publicity
- firingTerminating employment
affair · favoritism · salary · management · confidential · leak · colleague · cubicle
rumor
Unconfirmed circulating story
hearsay · busybody · clique · coffee klatch · neighborhood · coworker · water cooler · hen party · tea spilling · tongues wagging
backbiting
Spiteful talk about others
- slanderSpoken false defamation
- defamationFalse statements harming reputation
- mudslingingMalicious personal attacks
character assassination · smear · betrayal · two-faced · backstabbing · rumormongering · scandal · innuendo · poison · toxic
tabloid
Sensationalist newspaper format
affair · breakup · hookup · feud · drama · exposé · blind item · insider · source · publicist
office politics
Power dynamics at work
- water coolerChilled beverage dispenser
- HREmployee management department
- promotionRank increase or publicity
firing · affair · favoritism · salary · management · confidential · leak · colleague · cubicle · break room
gossippingkeeping secrets
keeping mum · discretion · confidentiality · secrecy · reticence
gossippingintrospection
Observing one's own mind
self-absorption · keeping to oneself · self-focus · staying in one's lane · self-reflection
gossip, gossiping, gossips, gossiper, gossiped, gossipy, gossipers, gossipmonger, gossipmongers