scurrilous

/'skʌriləs/

Thân thiện

A politician angrily dismisses scurrilous rumors during a press conference.

Definition

1. Adjective:
   • Expressing offensive reproach; using or containing coarse, vulgar, or abusive language intended to damage someone's reputation. The word describes speech or writing that is insulting, scandalous, and shows a lack of respect.

Usage Examples

• Adjective:
  • The journalist was sued for publishing scurrilous allegations about the politician's private life.
  • The debate descended into a series of scurrilous personal attacks rather than a discussion of policy.
  • He is known for his scurrilous humor, which often offends his audience.

Advanced Usage

• "Scurrilous attack/accusation/rumor": A common collocation emphasizing the defamatory nature of the statement.
  • The celebrity's lawyers moved quickly to quash the scurrilous rumor spread by a tabloid.
• Used in formal or legal contexts to describe libelous or slanderous material.
  • The court found the pamphlet's content to be scurrilous and ordered its retraction.

Variants and Related Words

• Scurrilously (adverb): In a scurrilous manner.
  • The article was scurrilously written to generate controversy.
• Scurrility (noun): The quality of being scurrilous; a scurrilous remark.
  • The political discourse was marked by shocking scurrility.

Synonyms

• Defamatory: Damaging to someone's good reputation.
• Slanderous: (Spoken) false and damaging statements.
• Libelous: (Written) false and damaging statements.
• Abusive: Extremely offensive and insulting.
• Vituperative: Bitter and abusive language.

Antonyms

• Complimentary: Expressing praise or admiration.
• Respectful: Showing deference and esteem.
• Flattering: Full of praise, often excessive.

Related Phrases and Idioms

• To engage in scurrilous invective: To launch into a stream of abusive criticism.
  • The talk show host often engages in scurrilous invective against his guests.
• A scurrilous pen: Referring to a writer known for producing abusive or defamatory work.
  • The anonymous blogger, wielding a scurrilous pen, caused significant distress.

Học thuật

Adjective

1. expressing offensive reproach

Từ đồng nghĩa

• abusive
• opprobrious