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Definition of scandalmongering
scandalmongering
/ˈskæn.dəlˌmʌŋ.ɡɚ.ɪŋ/
scan · dal · mon · ger · ing
scandalmongering Lexical Profile
CEFR
C2
Grade
12
Tier
2
Usage
Rare
Syllables
5
• noun
1
The practice or habit of circulating malicious gossip, rumors, and discreditable stories about others.
Example
"The candidate condemned the relentless scandalmongering that had dominated the final weeks of the election."
• adjective
1
Habitually spreading or promoting malicious gossip, rumors, and sensationalized scandals.
Example
"The celebrity sued the scandalmongering tabloid for publishing fabricated stories about her family."
• Nearby Words
Word Origin & Etymology
Formed in the early 18th century as a compound of 'scandal' (ultimately from Ancient Greek 'skandalon', meaning a trap or stumbling block) and 'monger' (from Old English 'mangere', meaning merchant or trader), literally referring to peddling malicious gossip as if it were a commodity.
Usage Trend
Historical frequency of usage in published text.
180019102020
Data source: Google Books Ngram Viewer
Cite this Entry
Wordmom. (2026). Definition of Scandalmongering. In Wordmom Dictionary. Retrieved Nov 5, 2026, from https://wordmom.com/dictionary/scandalmongering