scandal
Reputation-destroying revelation
Scandal is an event or action that causes public outrage or disgrace, typically involving moral wrongdoing or impropriety by someone in a position of trust: The financial scandal brought down the company, a sex scandal.
The word also covers the outrage itself: The news caused quite a scandal.
Scandals in politics and celebrity culture often end with the suffix -gate, after Watergate.
Something scandalous is shocking or disgraceful.
Spoken false defamation
- libelPrinted defamation
- smearSpread or defame
- accusationClaim someone did wrong
- allegationAssertion lacking proof
calumny · aspersion · vilification · disparagement · mudslinging · character assassination · false accusation · rumor
Corrupt payment for influence
- embezzlementFraudulent taking of entrusted assets
- fraudIntentional criminal trickery
- kickbacksIllegal return payments
- money launderingDisguising criminal proceeds' origins
graft · misappropriation · extortion · cronyism · nepotism · insider trading · cover-up · malfeasance
Painful awareness of failure
- dishonorLoss of respect
- ignominyState of dishonor
- humiliationLoss of dignity
- disreputeDamaged public standing
stigma · discredit · tarnish · opprobrium · degradation · embarrassment · mortification · infamy
News article title
- exposéInvestigative journalism piece
- tabloidSensationalist newspaper format
- scoopFirst-reported story
- bombshellShocking sudden revelation
revelation · paparazzi · gossip · sensationalism · tell-all · leak · coverage · breaking news
Romantic entanglement outside commitment
- infidelityDisloyalty to a partner
- luridShockingly vivid or gruesome
- titillatingPleasurably stimulating, often sensually
- juicyFull of moisture
sordid · steamy · illicit · liaison · indiscretion · tryst · adultery · compromising
slander
Spoken false defamation
- libelPrinted defamation
- smearSpread or defame
- accusationClaim someone did wrong
allegation · calumny · aspersion · vilification · disparagement · mudslinging · character assassination · false accusation · rumor · innuendo
bribery
Corrupt payment for influence
- embezzlementFraudulent taking of entrusted assets
- fraudIntentional criminal trickery
- kickbacksIllegal return payments
money laundering · graft · misappropriation · extortion · cronyism · nepotism · insider trading · cover-up · malfeasance · payola
shame
Painful awareness of failure
- dishonorLoss of respect
- ignominyState of dishonor
- humiliationLoss of dignity
disrepute · stigma · discredit · tarnish · opprobrium · degradation · embarrassment · mortification · infamy · notoriety
headline
News article title
bombshell · revelation · paparazzi · gossip · sensationalism · tell-all · leak · coverage · breaking news · frenzy
affair
Romantic entanglement outside commitment
- infidelityDisloyalty to a partner
- luridShockingly vivid or gruesome
- titillatingPleasurably stimulating, often sensually
juicy · sordid · steamy · illicit · liaison · indiscretion · tryst · adultery · compromising · risqué
- sports historyOlympic history, Olympic records, Olympics, Olympic Games, Olympic training
- business troublesbankruptcy, crisis, failure, insolvency, layoffs
- celebritycelebs, stardom, A-list, A-listers, movie stars
- celebrity gossippaparazzi, tabloid, gossip column, TMZ, rumor
- disgracedishonor, disgrace, downfall, stigma, infamy
- gossiprumor, rumors, gossip, hearsay, whisper
scandalhonor
High regard, moral dignity
glory · credit · pride · distinction · jewel
scandalvirtue
Moral goodness or merit
integrity · rectitude · probity · uprightness · righteousness
scandalpraise
Expression of approval
acclaim · commendation · triumph · heroic deed · adulation
- royal scandalMonarchy's damaging public exposure
- corporate scandalsOrganizational wrongdoing made public
- Enron scandalMajor corporate accounting fraud
- sex scandalPublic exposure of impropriety
- Lewinsky scandalPresidential infidelity controversy
- political scandalPublic official's exposed wrongdoing
scandalous, scandals, scandalize, scandalously, scandalized, scandalizing, scandalmonger, scandalousness, scandalmongering