scandalizing
Deeply offending others
Scandalizing is causing shock or outrage through behavior that violates moral standards or propriety.
The word often appears in contexts of public reputation: She was caught scandalizing the neighbors with her late-night parties.
Someone scandalizing others may be genuinely transgressive or simply defying conventional expectations.
Fierce moral indignation
- appallShock with disgust
- horrifyCause intense revulsion
- dismayDistressed loss of courage
- stunDaze by force
jolt · startle · astonishment · consternation · indignation · uproar · backlash · fury
Disrespectful toward the divine
- sacrilegiousGrossly irreverent toward sanctity
- profaneIrreverent toward the sacred
- irreverentDisrespectful toward authority
- indecentOffensive to accepted standards
immoral · improper · transgressive · taboo · unseemly · provocative · disrespectful · impious
Investigative journalism piece
- headlineNews article title
- scoopFirst-reported story
- paparazziAggressive celebrity photographers
- muckrakingInvestigative reporting on corruption
yellow journalism · sensationalism · lurid · salacious · titillating · notorious · infamous · newsworthy
Unconfirmed circulating story
- whispersSpeaks very quietly
- tittle-tattleTrivial, idle chatter
- backbitingSpiteful talk about others
- innuendoOblique disparaging remark
hearsay · buzz · talk · dirt · smear · scuttlebutt · tongues wagging · chatter
Spoken false defamation
- libelPrinted defamation
- smear campaignOrganized defamation effort
- calumnyMalicious false statement
- vilificationAbusive condemnation of someone
character assassination · mudslinging · disparagement · defamatory · libelous · scurrilous · malicious · false accusations
outrage
Fierce moral indignation
stun · jolt · startle · astonishment · consternation · indignation · uproar · backlash · fury · revulsion
blasphemous
Disrespectful toward the divine
- sacrilegiousGrossly irreverent toward sanctity
- profaneIrreverent toward the sacred
- irreverentDisrespectful toward authority
indecent · immoral · improper · transgressive · taboo · unseemly · provocative · disrespectful · impious · vulgar
exposé
Investigative journalism piece
muckraking · yellow journalism · sensationalism · lurid · salacious · titillating · notorious · infamous · newsworthy · front page
rumor
Unconfirmed circulating story
- whispersSpeaks very quietly
- tittle-tattleTrivial, idle chatter
- backbitingSpiteful talk about others
innuendo · hearsay · buzz · talk · dirt · smear · scuttlebutt · tongues wagging · chatter · speculation
slander
Spoken false defamation
- libelPrinted defamation
- smear campaignOrganized defamation effort
- calumnyMalicious false statement
vilification · character assassination · mudslinging · disparagement · defamatory · libelous · scurrilous · malicious · false accusations
scandalizingreassuring
Restoring calm or confidence
edifying · comforting · soothing · uplifting · inspiring
scandal, shameful, scandalous, scandals, scandalize, scandalously, scandalized, scandalised, scandalmonger