scandals
Reputation-destroying revelations
Scandals is the plural of scandal—actions or events that cause public outrage or damage reputations.
A scandal typically involves behavior that violates moral standards or public trust: The administration was rocked by a series of scandals.
Political scandals, financial scandals, and sex scandals dominate news cycles, often ending careers.
The word implies not just wrongdoing but exposure—a scandal requires an audience to be scandalized.
Article titles in newspapers
- exposéInvestigative journalism piece
- scoopFirst-reported story
- paparazziAggressive celebrity photographers
- coverageExtent of inclusion
leak · sensationalism · breaking news · exclusive · press conference · soundbite · tabloid · TMZ
Loss of honor
- shamePainful awareness of failure
- infamyExtreme public disgrace
- dishonorLoss of respect
- improprietyUnsuitable or inappropriate behavior
misconduct · wrongdoing · malfeasance · transgression · indiscretion · hypocrisy · fall from grace · double life
Unconfirmed circulating stories
- whispersSpeaks very quietly
- chatterLight, rapid speech
- hearsayUnverified secondhand information
- innuendoOblique disparaging remark
buzz · speculation · scuttlebutt · dirt · tea · juicy · affair · infidelity
Corrupt payment for influence
- embezzlementFraudulent taking of entrusted assets
- fraudIntentional criminal trickery
- kickbacksIllegal return payments
- money launderingDisguising criminal proceeds' origins
nepotism · cronyism · extortion · graft · misappropriation · payola · influence peddling · kleptocracy
Fierce moral indignation
- shockViolent sudden disturbance
- disbeliefRejection of truth claims
- dismayDistressed loss of courage
- uproarNoisy public disturbance
backlash · condemnation · outcry · furor · indignation · appalled · controversy · firestorm
headlines
Article titles in newspapers
- exposéInvestigative journalism piece
- scoopFirst-reported story
- paparazziAggressive celebrity photographers
coverage · leak · sensationalism · breaking news · exclusive · press conference · soundbite · tabloid · TMZ · muckraking
disgrace
Loss of honor
impropriety · misconduct · wrongdoing · malfeasance · transgression · indiscretion · hypocrisy · fall from grace · double life · betrayal
rumors
Unconfirmed circulating stories
innuendo · buzz · speculation · scuttlebutt · dirt · tea · juicy · affair · infidelity · tryst
bribery
Corrupt payment for influence
- embezzlementFraudulent taking of entrusted assets
- fraudIntentional criminal trickery
- kickbacksIllegal return payments
money laundering · nepotism · cronyism · extortion · graft · misappropriation · payola · influence peddling · kleptocracy · quid pro quo
outrage
Fierce moral indignation
uproar · backlash · condemnation · outcry · furor · indignation · appalled · controversy · firestorm · fallout
- celebritycelebs, stardom, A-list, A-listers, movie stars
- celebrity newscelebrity gossip, paparazzi, tabloids, TMZ, E! News
- headline-grabbersdisasters, celebrities, crimes, breaking news, controversies
- high societygossip, socialites, socialite, aristocrats, aristocrat
- court intrigueintrigue, plots, schemes, plotting, conspiracy
- Ulysses Grantpresidency, military career, general, Grant's Tomb, Union Army
scandalsvirtues
Positive moral traits
good deeds · triumphs · achievements · moral victories · heroic deeds
- 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