scoundrel

[ skoun-druhl ]

noun

1. an unprincipled, dishonorable person; villain.

   Synonyms: miscreant, rapscallion, scamp

adjective

1. mean or base in nature; villainous; unprincipled; dishonorable.

scoundrel

/ ˈskaʊndrəl /

noun

1. a worthless or villainous person

Derived Forms

• ˈscoundrelly, adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of scoundrel¹

First recorded in 1580–90; origin uncertain

Word History and Origins

Origin of scoundrel¹

C16: of unknown origin

Synonym Study

See knave.

Example Sentences

Trump regularly railed against the special counsel in interviews and online, calling him a "crooked person", a "scoundrel" and other insults.

From BBC

The cynical and wrong response to this deluge of stuff-we-made-up is to claim that such dishonesty is the norm, the world of politics being the refuge of scoundrels.

From Salon

“One of the peculiarities of squares is their screwy propensity to glorify rogues and scoundrels.”

From Los Angeles Times

Bush, and scoundrels, like Roger Clinton, the stepfather of Bill Clinton, who drank excessively and beat his wife, Virginia, regularly.

From Los Angeles Times

"The 'someone planted the evidence' defense," he wrote, "is the last refuge of a scoundrel."

From Salon

Related Words

• crook
• rascal