Need another word for Rascal? Use these synonyms of Rascal from our thesaurus to say it differently.
Synonyms & Similar Words
scoundrel
rogue
villain
knave
scamp
imp
mischief-maker
troublemaker
ne'er-do-well
good-for-nothing
vagabond
vagrant
ruffian
hooligan
thug
brute
bully
tyrant
oppressor
tormentor
pest
nuisance
annoyance
plague
bother
pain
menaces
delinquent
offender
culprit
wrongdoer
miscreant
reprobate
outcast
pariah
outlaw
rebel
renegade
dissident
nonconformist
Meaning of Rascal
A person who behaves in a way that is considered dishonest or unscrupulous.
Definitions
- A mischievous or cunning person, especially a child
- * A person who is playfully cheeky or disrespectful
- * A person who is dishonest or unscrupulous
Etymology of Rascal
The word "rascal" has its roots in the 14th-century English word "rascall", which referred to a low or inferior person, and is derived from the Old French word "rascaille", meaning "rabble" or "common people"
Over time, the term took on a more nuanced meaning, encompassing not only low social status but also a sense of cunning or deceit
Example Uses
- The little rascal pulled his sister's hair and ran away laughing
- * He was a rascal in his youth, always getting into trouble and causing mischief
- * The politician was accused of being a rascal for taking bribes and embezzling funds