1.   Bored dowagers with wisps snuggling on the shoulders, whispering flattery and malicious rumour in their perfectly sculpted ears.

2.   Mr Jameson dismissed the allegations as malicious rumours.

3.   Someone had been spreading malicious rumours about him.

4.   Who is responsible for these malicious rumours?

5.   A malicious rumour went round that Philip had something to do with the murder.