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scandalous Definition

scan·dal·ous (skandə ləs)

adjective

  1. causing scandal; offensive to a sense of decency or shocking to the moral feelings of the community; shameful
  2. consisting of or spreading slander; libelous; defamatory

Etymology: Fr scandaleux < ML scandalosus

scandalous Related Forms

scan·dal·ously adverb scan·dal·ous·ness noun

scandalous Synonyms

scandalous

modif.

scandalous Usage Examples

Preposition: that

  • people: What is so scandalous that so many people are offended?
  • revenue: Nor is it so scandalous that revenue from motoring fines swells police and Treasury coffers.
  • year: It is scandalous that this year, as last year, fewer houses will be completed than in 1964 when Labor took over.
  • child: It is scandalous that so many children have never had the chance to go to school.

Modifies a noun

  • lack: There is a scandalous lack of government-funded research into the physical causation.
  • minister: He was a staunch puritan, and a member of the Suffolk committee for the prosecution of scandalous ministers under the Earl of Manchester.
  • waste: It is a scandalous waste of taxpayers ' money.
  • situation: My personal interest in the subject had led me to unearth a scandalous situation.
  • conduct: Instead he was convicted of the lesser charge of scandalous conduct.

Modifying Another Word

  • downright: The drinking of tea by the poor was seen as downright scandalous.
  • absolutely: Edward Davey MP said " This is absolutely scandalous.
  • sometimes: This absorbing book traces the eventful and sometimes scandalous lives of Hedy and George.
  • too: His greatest drama was, ironically, first staged at a private club in London because it was considered too scandalous for Paris audiences.
  • so: Why did the government adopt so scandalous a course?
  • quite: It's quite scandalous we can't find enough electricians, roofers, builders and plumbers.

Used with adjective complement

  • consider: Was that considered scandalous at the time, or merely another exotic blockbuster from the Hollywood dream factory?
  • seem: It seems scandalous that the UK Liberal Democrats with 22 per cent of the votes achieved less than ten per cent of the seats.
  • become: This situation with Renault's dCi engines and the EGR valve is becoming scandalous.