Scurrilous

/ˈskɜːrələs/
adjective

Spreading scandalous claims about someone to damage their reputation.

She was hurt by the scurrilous rumors circulating about her.
Visual representation of "scurrilous" - Spreading scandalous claims about someone to damage their reputation.

Often appears as...

  • scurrilous rumors
  • scurrilous allegations

Usage tips

Formal, Disapproving

adjective

Showing a lack of respect and using rude or obscene language.

The section of the crowd began hurling scurrilous insults at the referee.
Visual representation of "scurrilous" - Showing a lack of respect and using rude or obscene language.

Often appears as...

  • scurrilous language
  • scurrilous remarks

Usage tips

Disapproving

Colloquial

adjective

Spreading scandalous claims about someone to damage their reputation.

She was hurt by the scurrilous rumors circulating about her.
Visual representation of "scurrilous" - Spreading scandalous claims about someone to damage their reputation.

Often appears as...

  • scurrilous rumors
  • scurrilous allegations

Usage tips

Formal, Disapproving

adjective

Showing a lack of respect and using rude or obscene language.

The section of the crowd began hurling scurrilous insults at the referee.
Visual representation of "scurrilous" - Showing a lack of respect and using rude or obscene language.

Often appears as...

  • scurrilous language
  • scurrilous remarks

Usage tips

Disapproving

Colloquial

Definition 1 of 2
Visual representation of "scurrilous"
LampPro Tip 1/3

Reputation Harm

Used when intent is to damage someone's social standing or credibility.

Illustration for Reputation Harm
The scurrilous article jeopardized the senator's career.
LampPro Tip 2/3

Unproven Claims

Often implies accusations are unverified or exaggerated.

Illustration for Unproven Claims
His career was tainted by scurrilous allegations despite the lack of evidence.
LampPro Tip 3/3

Malicious Nature

Highlights the deliberate and spiteful character of the remarks.

Illustration for Malicious Nature
The opponent's scurrilous remarks were meant to destroy her reputation.
LampPro Tip 1/3

Reputation Harm

Used when intent is to damage someone's social standing or credibility.

Illustration for Reputation Harm
The scurrilous article jeopardized the senator's career.
LampPro Tip 2/3

Unproven Claims

Often implies accusations are unverified or exaggerated.

Illustration for Unproven Claims
His career was tainted by scurrilous allegations despite the lack of evidence.
LampPro Tip 3/3

Malicious Nature

Highlights the deliberate and spiteful character of the remarks.

Illustration for Malicious Nature
The opponent's scurrilous remarks were meant to destroy her reputation.
LampPro Tip 1/3

Reputation Harm

Used when intent is to damage someone's social standing or credibility.

Illustration for Reputation Harm
The scurrilous article jeopardized the senator's career.
LampPro Tip 2/3

Unproven Claims

Often implies accusations are unverified or exaggerated.

Illustration for Unproven Claims
His career was tainted by scurrilous allegations despite the lack of evidence.
LampPro Tip 3/3

Malicious Nature

Highlights the deliberate and spiteful character of the remarks.

Illustration for Malicious Nature
The opponent's scurrilous remarks were meant to destroy her reputation.
Visual representation of the word "Scurrilous"

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Quote examples

Steve Kornacki

We've seen senators like Ted Cruz before. The historical comparison most commonly invoked involves Joe McCarthy, whose scurrilous red-baiting crusade in the early 1950s shattered the careers of innocent public servants and alienated McCarthy from his fellow senators, but also made him a folk hero on the right. Jesse Helms comes to mind too.
Portrait of Steve Kornacki

Quote examples

Prashant Bhushan

Indian Lawyer

When I said that the court should be willing to suffer even intemperate criticism, I did not mean that people should level intemperate criticism. What I said is even if criticism is intemperate or unfair and bordering on scurrilous and abusive, it will be understood for what it is by the people.
Portrait of Prashant Bhushan

Quote examples

Charles Krauthammer

American Journalist

Every two years the American politics industry fills the airwaves with the most virulent, scurrilous, wall-to-wall character assassination of nearly every political practitioner in the country - and then declares itself puzzled that America has lost trust in its politicians.
Portrait of Charles Krauthammer

Quote examples

Robert Dallek

American Historian

There is a line between scurrilous nonsense and serious discussion that laps over, especially in this day and age when you've got all this electronic media and these blogs and this kind of fanatical impulse to bring down the opposing candidate.
Portrait of Robert Dallek

Quote examples

Peter Morgan

British Writer

Authorised royal biographers are so straitjacketed, deferential, fawning, and unadventurous that they can only be after a knighthood. Or they're completely scurrilous and insolent, like Andrew Morton or Paul Burrell.
Portrait of Peter Morgan

Quote examples

Peter Coyote

American Actor

When you break the rules and you win, you're a hero; when you lose, you're scurrilous.
Portrait of Peter Coyote

Quote examples

Steve Kornacki

We've seen senators like Ted Cruz before. The historical comparison most commonly invoked involves Joe McCarthy, whose scurrilous red-baiting crusade in the early 1950s shattered the careers of innocent public servants and alienated McCarthy from his fellow senators, but also made him a folk hero on the right. Jesse Helms comes to mind too.
Portrait of Steve Kornacki

Quote examples

Prashant Bhushan

Indian Lawyer

When I said that the court should be willing to suffer even intemperate criticism, I did not mean that people should level intemperate criticism. What I said is even if criticism is intemperate or unfair and bordering on scurrilous and abusive, it will be understood for what it is by the people.
Portrait of Prashant Bhushan

Quote examples

Charles Krauthammer

American Journalist

Every two years the American politics industry fills the airwaves with the most virulent, scurrilous, wall-to-wall character assassination of nearly every political practitioner in the country - and then declares itself puzzled that America has lost trust in its politicians.
Portrait of Charles Krauthammer

Quote examples

Robert Dallek

American Historian

There is a line between scurrilous nonsense and serious discussion that laps over, especially in this day and age when you've got all this electronic media and these blogs and this kind of fanatical impulse to bring down the opposing candidate.
Portrait of Robert Dallek

Quote examples

Peter Morgan

British Writer

Authorised royal biographers are so straitjacketed, deferential, fawning, and unadventurous that they can only be after a knighthood. Or they're completely scurrilous and insolent, like Andrew Morton or Paul Burrell.
Portrait of Peter Morgan

Quote examples

Peter Coyote

American Actor

When you break the rules and you win, you're a hero; when you lose, you're scurrilous.
Portrait of Peter Coyote
Example 1 of 6
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