raffish

American  

[raf-ish] / ˈræf ɪʃ /

adjective

1. mildly or sometimes engagingly disreputable or nonconformist.

   a matinee idol whose raffish offstage behavior amused millions.

   Synonyms:

   picaresque, devilish, scampish, rascally, prankish, waggish, roguish

2. gaudily vulgar or cheap; tawdry.

   Synonyms:

   inelegant, tasteless, loud, gaudy, garish, flamboyant, flashy, showy, tawdry, gimcrack, tinsel, cheap, tacky, vulgar, crass

   Antonyms:

   understated, reserved, quiet, plain, simple, high-class, classy, refined, elegant, tasteful

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raffish British  

/ ˈræfɪʃ /

adjective

1. careless or unconventional in dress, manners, etc; rakish

2. tawdry; flashy; vulgar

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Other Word Forms

• raffishly adverb
• raffishness noun

Etymology

Origin of raffish

First recorded in 1795–1805; raff + -ish ¹

Example Sentences

The accusations had little impact, however, on his public persona as a raffish celebrity who was a fixture in gossip columns, a personal brand crystallized by the name of his music label: Bad Boy.

From New York Times

Afterward, he started to communicate with living Redondan notables and to research the micro-nation’s various rival monarchs, including a raffish ship’s captain known as King Bob the Bald.

From Washington Post

Now combined into a single storefront, the current retail space retains raffish details of its liquor-store days, including a retro red-and-blue neon sign and period gilt window lettering advertising cognacs and cordials.

From Seattle Times

But logic isn’t the point of a story populated by a cast of colorfully raffish hit men, ne’er-do-wells, a precocious chaos merchant and an ever-looming crime kingpin called the White Death.

From Washington Post

Stevens begins his account with an introduction to his ancestors, all of whom were show people in the gloriously raffish tradition.

From Washington Post

Related Words

• bohemian
• disreputable
• jaunty
• rakish