Word of the Day: Scandal
A scandal is a situation in which people in positions of responsibility and power are accused of or guilty of misbehavior. Scandals usually involve money, abuse of power, or inappropriate activity of a sexual nature.
- Richard Nixon resigned as President of the United States following a political scandal in which he was involved.
- Bill Clinton, another U.S. president, tarnished his reputation during a scandal that involved a female intern who worked in his office.
- David Petraeus, a former U.S. General and Director of the CIA, got caught up in a scandal created by an extramarital affair. He resigned. (He had a relationship with a woman who was not his wife.)
- Rumors of a scandal involving the chief financial officer of the company floated throughout the office.
- Sex, sin, and scandal are what sell newspapers. Everyone wants to read about the problems of others.
The word “scandalous” is an adjective:
- Scandalous behavior at the top of the organization brought about its collapse.
- Newspapers sell more copies when stories of scandalous behavior are reported.
- The royal family was embarrassed by scandalous photos that appeared in the newspapers.
The word “scandalize” is a verb:
- The man was so scandalized by rumors he had stolen money from the company he worked for, he quit his position.
Essential English Dictionary
Visit the Popular English Words Beginning with S page to see the list of all words starting with letter S. For seeing the HiCafe dictionary, visit the Popular English Words with Meaning page.
