What does scandalized mean?
Scandalized means feeling or expressing strong moral shock and indignation at conduct or information considered scandalous. The word commonly describes a person's reaction to corruption, dishonesty, sexual impropriety, religious blasphemy, or conduct that breaches trusted social or moral expectations. It is often used in passive constructions such as “the public was scandalized,” emphasizing the scale of the reaction rather than merely identifying someone as upset. The strongest near-synonyms are “outraged,” “horrified,” and “appalled,” while “shocked” is broader and can apply to surprise without moral indignation. The related adjective “scandalous” describes the offending conduct itself, whereas “scandalized” describes how viewers respond to it. In British English the usual spelling is “scandalised”; American English uses “scandalized.” The word retains a more formal and emphatic tone than expressions such as “taken aback,” making it especially appropriate for reporting public or institutional reactions to serious misconduct.
Feeling or expressing strong moral shock, indignation, or offended surprise at conduct or information regarded as scandalous.
"Several members of the audience were scandalized by the accusation."
Most often used predicatively or in passive constructions; British English normally spells it “scandalised.”
To shock or outrage people strongly by presenting conduct or information regarded as scandalous.
"The disclosures scandalized the entire community."
In this use, “scandalized” is the third-person singular simple present or the past participle of “scandalize”; the context determines which form is intended.
The word “scandal” descends from a Greek word for a stumbling block, so “scandalized” began as an image of people figuratively stumbling over misconduct.
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Where does scandalized come from?
The word was formed in the early 19th century from “scandal” and the suffix “-ize,” originally meaning to cause shock or indignation and later commonly used in the passive participle. “Scandal” entered English in the late 16th century through French, from Late Latin “scandalum,” ultimately derived from Greek “skándalon,” meaning a trap or stumbling block. The religious sense of a cause of spiritual stumbling preceded the modern secular sense of disgraceful or shocking conduct.
Related word forms
How scandalized is actually used
As an adjective or past participle, it is most natural when describing a person, group, or public reaction. British English normally spells it “scandalised,” whereas American English uses “scandalized.”
Easily confused with scandalized
Scandalized describes a person's shocked or indignant reaction, whereas scandalous describes conduct, information, or events regarded as disgraceful.
Scandalised is the standard British spelling, while scandalized is the standard American spelling.