rumormongering
/ˈrumərˌmʌŋɡərɪŋ/
noun
- The act of spreading rumors or unverified information, often with the intent to cause harm or stir up trouble.
- The politician accused the media of rumormongering to damage his reputation.
- The school had to address the rumormongering that was causing bullying among students.
- Rumormongering in the office created a lot of unnecessary tension among coworkers.