talebearing
Telling others' business
Talebearing is spreading gossip or revealing secrets about others, especially to cause trouble.
A talebearer carries private information from person to person, stirring up conflict: The office talebearer had everyone at each other's throats.
The word has an old-fashioned, almost biblical ring—more judgmental than "gossip."
Unverified secondhand information
- scuttlebuttInformal rumor or speculation
- innuendoOblique disparaging remark
- speculationUnproven theorizing or risky investment
- whisperSpeech without full voice
slander · defamation · libel · canard · misinformation · allegation · unconfirmed · fabrication
Reporting others' wrongdoing
- backbitingSpiteful talk about others
- blabbermouthOne who reveals secrets
- busybodyIntrusive meddler
- gossipmongerHabitual spreader of rumors
snitch · informant · rumormonger · meddler · yenta · tattletale · telltale · squealer
Deliberate violation of trust
- double-dealingDeceptive practice of betrayal
- disloyaltyBreach of allegiance
- backstabbingCovert betrayal of trust
- breach of trustViolation of confidence
exposure · revelation · indiscretion · loose lips · leak · sellout · Judas · turncoat
Meant to stay secret
- furtiveSecretive and sly
- surreptitiousDone secretly, avoiding detection
- hushedReduced to silence
- whisperedSpoke without full voice
behind closed doors · private · discreet · covert · clandestine · ear-to-ear · passed along · circulated
hearsay
Unverified secondhand information
- scuttlebuttInformal rumor or speculation
- innuendoOblique disparaging remark
- speculationUnproven theorizing or risky investment
whisper · slander · defamation · libel · canard · misinformation · allegation · unconfirmed · fabrication · conjecture
tattling
Reporting others' wrongdoing
- backbitingSpiteful talk about others
- blabbermouthOne who reveals secrets
- busybodyIntrusive meddler
gossipmonger · snitch · informant · rumormonger · meddler · yenta · tattletale · telltale · squealer · babble
treachery
Deliberate violation of trust
- double-dealingDeceptive practice of betrayal
- disloyaltyBreach of allegiance
- backstabbingCovert betrayal of trust
breach of trust · exposure · revelation · indiscretion · loose lips · leak · sellout · Judas · turncoat · perfidy
confidential
Meant to stay secret
- furtiveSecretive and sly
- surreptitiousDone secretly, avoiding detection
- hushedReduced to silence
whispered · behind closed doors · private · discreet · covert · clandestine · ear-to-ear · passed along · circulated · spread
- scandalscandal, infamy, disgrace, coverup, cover-up
- slanderslander, defamation, calumny, libel, false accusation
talebearingdiscretion
Careful judgment in speech
confidentiality · secrecy · tight-lippedness · tight-lipped · reticence
talebearingsilence
Total lack of sound
taciturnity · reticence · muteness · quietness · uncommunicativeness
bear, tale, born, bearing, bearer, telltales, talebearers, talebearer