scum
Floating surface gunk
Scum is the film of impurities that rises to the surface of a liquid—the foam on boiling soup, the algae coating a stagnant pond.
By extension, scum describes the lowest, most contemptible people: Those guys are absolute scum.
The insult suggests worthlessness floating atop something otherwise decent.
To scum is to form or remove such a layer.
Movie or coating
- layerSingle thickness of material
- frothMass of small bubbles
- foamBubble-filled substance
- slickSmooth or craftily adept
skim · coating · residue · buildup · crust · sheen · floating · oily
Disreputable, despicable person
- despicableMorally worthless, beneath regard
- vileExtremely unpleasant or bad
- sleazyDisreputably low-quality
- degenerateDecline morally or physically
loathsome · vermin · riffraff · dregs · worthless · creep · lowdown · slimeball
Small still body
- bloomFlower or flourishing state
- biofilmAdhesive layer of microorganisms
- slimeThick wet gunk
- cyanobacteriaPhotosynthetic bacteria producing oxygen
stagnant · eutrophication · growth · aquarium · murky · microalgae · duckweed · phytoplankton
film
Movie or coating
slick · skim · coating · residue · buildup · crust · sheen · floating · oily · grimy
lowlife
Disreputable, despicable person
- despicableMorally worthless, beneath regard
- vileExtremely unpleasant or bad
- sleazyDisreputably low-quality
degenerate · loathsome · vermin · riffraff · dregs · worthless · creep · lowdown · slimeball · dirtbag
pond
Small still body
cyanobacteria · stagnant · eutrophication · growth · aquarium · murky · microalgae · duckweed · phytoplankton · brackish
foam
Bubble-filled substance
bubbles · residue · bathtub · detergent · washing · cleanser · soapy · ring · surfactant · basin
underworld
Realm of the departed
hoodlum · mobster · racketeer · syndicate · mafia · villain · felon · corrupt · smuggler · trafficker
scumelite
Superior select group
nobility · cream of the crop · aristocracy · saint · hero
scumpurity
Uncontaminated quality
cleanliness · clarity · pure water · clear water · clear liquid
scumcream
Rich milk fat
cream of the crop · best · finest · pick of the litter · top tier
- pond scumSurface growth on stagnant water
- scum of the earthWorst of humanity
- soap scumMineral-detergent residue