scandalous

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "scandalous" is correct and usable in written English. You can use it to describe something that causes public outrage or shock due to immorality or wrongdoing. An example: "The politician's scandalous behavior led to widespread protests." Alternative expressions include "outrageous" and "shocking."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

The scandals, more fruitily scandalous than ever, have sunk in the public consciousness with barely a ripple.

The Economist

British "national interests" required the covering up one of the most scandalous episodes in the history of arms dealing.

The Guardian

The LA Times described attempts by "Republicans in Congress and many in the national-security bureaucracy" to bottle up the intelligence committee's conclusions as "scandalous".

The Guardian

I could never have imagined that freezing walks and scandalous vets' bills would one day feel like no trouble at all.

The Guardian - Lifestyle

"I don't recognise any link to someone who treats me in such a scandalous way".

The Guardian

When insurer RSA agrees to pay scandalous underwriting fees of £25m on a zero-risk rights issue, make it a better offer; if its board declines, embarrass it by going public.

The Guardian - Business

We could speak out about the scandalous waste of money that is the private finance initiative (PFI) and call for the renegotiation of PFI contracts.

The Guardian

Asked if he wanted her to win, he said: "No, because if someone with her moral principles led France it would be scandalous".

The Guardian

Reacting to the Sun’s scandalous labelling of the victims and survivors as ‘Scum!’, Carlyle is driven to embark on a vengeful murder spree.

The Guardian - Film

"I have to condemn the scandalous attempts over the weekend to destroy the trials of GM wheat at Rothamsted.

The Guardian

"So, by ending the scandalous waste of money from building new schools in areas of surplus places, we will create more places where they are needed".

The Guardian

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "scandalous" to describe situations or actions that provoke public outrage and violate moral or ethical standards. Ensure the context clearly indicates the reason for the outrage.

Common error

Avoid using "scandalous" to describe minor disagreements or personal preferences. This word carries a strong connotation of moral outrage and is best reserved for situations involving significant ethical breaches or public wrongdoing.

Linguistic Context

The primary grammatical function of "scandalous" is as an adjective, modifying nouns to describe something that causes public outrage or is considered morally wrong. Ludwig provides various examples demonstrating its use in different contexts.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

75%

Formal & Business

15%

Science

10%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "scandalous" functions as an adjective to describe something morally offensive that provokes public outrage. Ludwig examples show it's commonly used in news and media to highlight severe ethical breaches. While grammatically sound and widely accepted, ensure its strong connotation aligns with the context. Alternatives include "outrageous" and "disgraceful", each providing slightly different nuances. Ludwig AI indicates that the phrase is correct and usable in written English.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

outrageous

Indicates a shocking or unacceptable action or event.

disgraceful

Suggests a loss of respect or honor due to a particular action.

shameful

Implies causing or deserving shame.

shocking

Emphasizes the surprise and dismay caused by something unexpected and disturbing.

appalling

Highlights the horribleness and unacceptability of something.

offensive

Focuses on the upsetting or insulting nature of something.

reprehensible

Indicates something deserving strong condemnation.

immoral

Directly addresses the lack of moral principles.

unethical

Refers to actions that violate accepted principles of right and wrong.

indecent

Suggests behavior that is not appropriate or morally acceptable.

FAQs

How can I use "scandalous" in a sentence?

"Scandalous" is used to describe something that causes public outrage or shock due to immorality or wrongdoing. For example, "The politician's "scandalous" behavior led to widespread protests."

What words are similar to "scandalous"?

Alternatives to "scandalous" include "outrageous", "disgraceful", "shameful", and "shocking". The best choice depends on the specific nuance you want to convey.

When is it appropriate to use the word "scandalous"?

It is appropriate to use "scandalous" when describing actions or events that are morally wrong, cause public outrage, and violate ethical standards. Avoid using it for minor disagreements or personal preferences.

What is the difference between "scandalous" and "disgraceful"?

While both "scandalous" and "disgraceful" imply disapproval, "scandalous" emphasizes the public outrage and shock caused by the action, whereas "disgraceful" focuses more on the loss of respect or honor.