Definition

Noun: - Disgraceful talk about the private lives of other people: "Malicious gossip" refers to the act of spreading unkind, harmful, or scandalous information, often of a personal or private nature, about other people. The information may be true, exaggerated, or false, and the primary intent is to damage someone's reputation or social standing.

Usage

• "Malicious gossip" is used as a non-count noun to describe the general activity or content of such talk.
• It often implies a mean-spirited or spiteful motive behind the sharing of information.

Examples

Advanced Usage

• "To be the subject of malicious gossip": to be the person that harmful rumors are about.
  • After the scandal, she found herself the subject of malicious gossip.
• "A piece of malicious gossip": used to refer to a specific instance or item of such talk (though "malicious gossip" is generally non-count).
  • He dismissed the story as just another piece of malicious gossip.

Variants and Related Words

• Gossip (n/v): Casual or unconstrained conversation or reports about other people, which may or may not be malicious.
• Rumor (n): A currently circulating story or report of uncertain or doubtful truth.
• Slander (n): The action or crime of making a false spoken statement damaging to a person's reputation.
• Tittle-tattle (n): Idle gossip or chatter.

Synonyms

• Scandal-mongering: spreading malicious rumors or gossip.
• Backbiting: malicious talk about someone who is not present.
• Character assassination: a deliberate and vicious attempt to destroy someone's reputation.

Related Phrases

• To spread malicious gossip: to be the one telling the harmful stories.
  • She was accused of spreading malicious gossip about her colleagues.
• Fuel for malicious gossip: information or events that encourage such talk.
  • Their public argument became fuel for malicious gossip.

Related Idioms

• A whispering campaign: a systematic spreading of disparaging rumors or gossip, especially in politics.
  • The candidate was targeted by a vicious whispering campaign.

Noun

1. disgraceful gossip about the private lives of other people