-
Gossip
Gossip is idle talk or rumor, especially about the personal or private affairs of others; the act is also known as dishing or tattling.Gossip has been researched in terms of its origins in evolutionary psychology, which has found gossip to be an important means for people to monitor cooperative reputations and so maintain widespread indirect reciprocity. Indirect reciprocity is a social interaction in which one actor helps another and is then benefited by a third party. Gossip has also been identified by Robin Dunbar, an evolutionary biologist, as aiding social bonding in large groups.
-
Slander (noun)
A false or unsupported, malicious statement (spoken, not written), especially one which is injurious to a person’s reputation; the making of such a statement.
-
Slander (verb)
To utter a slanderous statement; baselessly speak ill of.
-
Gossip (noun)
Someone who likes to talk about other people’s private or personal business.
“busybody|gossipmonger|meddler|rumormonger|Thesaurus:gossiper”
“Be careful what you say to him: he’s a bit of a gossip.”
-
Gossip (noun)
Idle talk about someone’s private or personal matters, especially someone not present.
“dirt|hearsay|rumor|scandal|scuttlebutt|Thesaurus:rumor”
“According to the latest gossip, their relationship is on the rocks.”
“I have a juicy piece of gossip to share with you.”
-
Gossip (noun)
Idle conversation in general.
“chat|chinwag|chit-chat|natter|Thesaurus:chatter”
-
Gossip (noun)
A genre in contemporary media, usually focused on the personal affairs of celebrities.
“a gossip columnist”
“a gossip blog”
-
Gossip (noun)
A sponsor; a godfather or godmother; the godparent of one’s child.
“sponsor”
“godfather|godmother”
-
Gossip (noun)
A familiar acquaintance.
“friend”
-
Gossip (noun)
Title used with the name of one’s child’s godparent or of a friend.
-
Gossip (verb)
To talk about someone else’s private or personal business, especially in a manner that spreads the information.
“blab|dish the dirt|spill the tea|talk out of turn|tell tales out of school”
-
Gossip (verb)
To talk idly.
“chat|chatter|chew the fat|chinwag|natter|prattle|shoot the breeze”
-
Gossip (verb)
To stand godfather to; to provide godparents for.
-
Gossip (verb)
To enjoy oneself during festivities, to make merry.
-
Slander (noun)
the action or crime of making a false spoken statement damaging to a person’s reputation
“he is suing the TV company for slander”
-
Slander (noun)
a false and malicious spoken statement
“I’ve had just about all I can stomach of your slanders”
-
Slander (verb)
make false and damaging statements about (someone)
“they were accused of slandering the head of state”