miscreant

[ mis-kree-uhnt ]

adjective

1. depraved, villainous, or base.
2. Archaic. holding a false or unorthodox religious belief; heretical.

noun

1. a vicious or depraved person; villain.
2. Archaic. a heretic or infidel.

miscreant

/ ˈmɪskrɪənt /

noun

1. a wrongdoer or villain
2. archaic.
   an unbeliever or heretic

adjective

1. evil or villainous
2. archaic.
   unbelieving or heretical

Word History and Origins

Origin of miscreant¹

1350–1400; Middle English < Middle French mescreant unbelieving, equivalent to mes- mis- ¹ + creant ≪ Latin crēdent- credent

Word History and Origins

Origin of miscreant¹

C14: from Old French mescreant unbelieving, from mes- mis- ¹+ creant, ultimately from Latin credere to believe

Example Sentences

Katsina's government said "miscreants" had "hijacked the protests" there.

From BBC

Some in that guild of miscreants have openly spoken of suing to keep Biden on the ballot.

From Salon

It’s no wonder Kathy’s boyfriend beats it as soon as Benny turns up on their curb, and it’s no wonder Kathy bends her life around her new brooding boyfriend and his clan of grease-streaked miscreants.

From Los Angeles Times

He counted himself among the socially marginalized and once joked in a personal letter about “all us miscreants who drifted into the Bowery of Life, the art world.”

From New York Times

He spoke of Trump as such a miscreant that he required a full-time "fixer" to "take care of problems."

From Salon