Scurrilous meaning

skûrə-ləs, skŭr-
The definition of scurrilous is something that is very abusive, or is scandalous and potentially harmful rumors spread to ruin someone's reputation.

A nasty, verbal, abusive attack on a teacher is an example of a scurrilous attack.

An untrue rumor spread for the purposes of making a politician look bad to voters is an example of something that would be described as scurrilous.

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Characterized by indecent or abusive language; coarse; vulgar.
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Given to the use of vulgar, coarse, or abusive language.
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Expressed in vulgar, coarse, or abusive language.
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Of a malicious or slanderous nature; defamatory.
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Maliciously insulting; slanderous, libelous, etc.
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(of a person) Given to vulgar verbal abuse; foul-mouthed.
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(of language) Coarse, vulgar, abusive, or slanderous.
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Origin of scurrilous

  • From Latin scurrilis (“buffoon-like"), from scurra (“a buffoon").

    From Wiktionary

Scurrilous Sentence Examples

  • While at Douai he wrote a scurrilous attack on Queen Elizabeth, which caused a riot among the English students.

  • At a later period he was unjustly described as "a scurrilous party writer," which he certainly was not; but, on the other hand, Johnson spoke of his writing "so variously and so well," and put Robinson Crusoe among the only three books that readers wish longer.

  • By this time O'Connell had attained a position of great eminence in the House of Commons: as a debater he stood in the very first rank, though he had entered St Stephen's after fifty; and his oratory, massive and strong in argument, although too often scurrilous and coarse, and marred by a bearing in which cringing flattery and rude bullying were strangely blended, made a powerful, if not a pleasing, impression.

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