scoundrel
Americannoun
adjective
noun
Synonym Usage
See knave.
Other Word Forms
Derived Forms
Inflected Forms
Nouns
Etymology
Origin of scoundrel
First recorded in 1580–90; origin uncertain
Explanation
A scoundrel is a person who does deliberately evil things. If your brother hides a fake mouse in your shoe and you therefore almost have a heart attack while getting dressed, you have every right to call him a scoundrel. Though the term scoundrel isn’t used as much as it once was, it’s the perfect way to describe someone who breaks the law, has no morals, or someone like your sneaky sibling who loves to play practical jokes. Most villains in movies and on television can be put in this category. Interestingly, though women are quite capable of equally wicked behavior, this particular term is usually reserved for men.
Vocabulary lists containing scoundrel
Scrooge, Grinch, and Churl: Wonderful Words for Unpleasant People
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"The Treasure of Lemon Brown"
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The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn
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Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
There’s also the recently announced novel The Princess and the Scoundrel, which will reveal the untold story of Han and Leia’s honeymoon on the Halcyon.
From The Verge • Feb. 25, 2022
Helmholz-DeLay says his No. 1 priority is still Rupee Bar, but he hopes to host Scoundrel pop-ups monthly.
From Seattle Times • Dec. 1, 2021
Our demos point more to "Scoundrel Days"-type of music than the first album and how it turned out.
From Salon • Jun. 12, 2021
Daisy Fried is the author of three books of poetry, most recently “Women’s Poetry: Poems and Advice,” and poetry editor of the literary-resistance journal Scoundrel Time.
From New York Times • Jul. 6, 2018
"Scoundrel, villain!" he cried, shaking both fists in the air before the imperturbable Doutfire.
From A Poached Peerage by Magnay, William
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
