Meaning & Definition of Scurrilous in English

Detailed Definitions

• Definition: Containing obscenities, abuse, or slander.

  Example Sentence: The tabloid published a scurrilous article about the politician that was filled with baseless accusations.

• Definition: Characterized by or using low buffoonery; coarsely jocular or derisive.

  Example Sentence: His scurrilous humor didn't sit well with the more serious guests at the dinner.

Etymology

Origin: Late Latin 'scurrilosus' meaning 'like a buffoon,' from 'scurra' meaning 'buffoon or jester.'

Synonyms

Common Phrases and Expressions

• scurrilous gossip: Gossip that is malicious or intended to harm someone's reputation.
• scurrilous attack: A verbal or written assault that is meant to destroy someone's reputation with lies or slander.

Translations

• Spanish: infamante

• French: scandaleux

• German: verleumderisch

• Russian: клеветнический

Related Words

• slander: The action or crime of making a false spoken statement damaging to a person's reputation.

• libel: A published false statement that is damaging to a person's reputation; a written defamation.

• defamation: The action of damaging the good reputation of someone; slander or libel.

Slang Meanings of scurrilous

• Meaning: Trash talk

  Example Sentence: That rap song is full of scurrilous trash talk about rival artists.

• Meaning: Throwing shade

  Example Sentence: Her scurrilous comments were just her way of throwing shade at the competition.