scandal

n

1. misdoing, evildoing, wrongdoing, transgression, malefaction, violation, crime, sin, offense, atrocity, delinquency, dereliction, disgraceful action, outrageous or flagrant misconduct or misbehavior, evil behavior, blameworthy action; political impropriety, unethical conduct; vice, wickedness, baseness, turpitude, depravity, corruption, iniquity, villainy; immodesty, impropriety, impudicity, indecency, lust, carnality, concupiscence, lewdness, lechery, debauchery, libertinism, dissipation.

2. commotion, disturbance, stir, affair, ado, furor, fuss, flurry, turbulence, turmoil, tumult, Inf. to-do, uproar, storm, explosion, hubbub, hullabaloo, Sl. big stink.

3. disgrace, shame, dishonor, degradation, debasement, ill-repute, disrepute, reproach, ingloriousness; ignominy, infamy, odium, opprobrium, revilement, condemnation; censure, blame, inculpation, railing, commination, invective, curse, denunciation, contumely, malediction, animadversion, imprecation, delation, execration; discredit, disfavor, disrespect, disapproval, disapprobation, obloquy, disesteem, loss of face, fall, downfall, debacle, descent, (usu. political) Watergate; humiliation, humble pie, mortification; belittlement, disparagement, deprecation, detraction, deflation, depreciation, devaluation, derogation.

4. slander, libel, calumny, calumniation, misrepresentation, falsehood, lie, untruth, malicious falsehood or untruth, traducement; aspersion, imputation, insinuation, innuendo, Inf. brickbat, backbiting, malicious gossip, dirt, scandalmongering, abuse, injury, mud-slinging; slur, defilement, blot, blot on the escutcheon, smear, smirch, stain, taint, attaint, tarnish, spot, black spot or mark, blemish, smudge, brand, stigma, badge of infamy; defamation, denigration, vilification, vituperation, Inf. skeleton in the closet, yellow journalism, muckraking.