different between scandalous vs odious

English

Etymology

From Medieval Latin scandalosus, via French scandaleuse; as if scandal + -ous.

Pronunciation

• (US) IPA^(key): /?skænd?l?s/

Adjective

scandalous (comparative more scandalous, superlative most scandalous)

1. Wrong, immoral, causing a scandal
   • 1884, Mark Twain, Adventures of Huckleberry Finn

     The thing made a big stir in the town, too, and a good many come out flatfooted and said it was scandalous to separate the mother and the children that way.

2. Malicious, defamatory.
   • 1592, Thomas Kyd, The Spanish Tragedie

     These be the scandalous reports of such / As loves not me, and hate my lord too much.

   • 1887, Marie Corelli, Thelma

     I always disregard gossip--it is generally scandalous, and seldom true.
3. Outrageous; exceeding reasonable limits.

Derived terms

• scandalously
• scandalousness

Translations

English

Etymology

From Middle English odious, from Old French odieus, from Latin odi?sus, from odium (“hate”).

Pronunciation

• (UK) IPA^(key): /???.di.?s/
• (US) IPA^(key): /?o?.di.?s/
• Rhymes: -??di?s

Adjective

odious (comparative more odious, superlative most odious)

1. Arousing or meriting strong dislike, aversion, or intense displeasure.

   Scrubbing the toilet is an odious task.

Usage notes

• Nouns to which "odious" is often applied: debt, man, character, crime, task, comparison, woman, person, vice, word, act.

Synonyms

• detestable, hated, reviled, unsavory, contemptible, despicable

Related terms

Translations

Anagrams

• iodous