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rascally

rascally

1 7.0
Dishonest and likely to trick people for money or advantage
  • adjective
  • /ˈræskəli/
  • Informal
translation icon : deshonesto
  • Although he was charming, everyone knew his rascally nature often led him to play tricks on his friends.

Examples

  • The rascally thief managed to escape just as the police arrived, leaving a trail of confusion behind him.

  • And for all his rascally ways, Houlihan was a man of outgoing heart.

    Fiction book (1994)
  • Now, fellow, we'll be done with witnesses, and I will convict you out of your own rascally mouth.

  • That's a rascally man you've been talking to, Benjamin.

  • The place is driven by the most rascally part of society: the money hunters, the pleasure hunters, the military promotion hunters; and he is their slave.

    Blog text (23)
  • Unless you are Jay Bookman, who could blame the extinction of the dinosaurs on those rascally GOP demons?

    Blog text (26)
  • For some silly reason, I thought that was President Clinton getting credit for that NAFTA thing (whatever that is). I didn't realize that it was those dang rascally Republicans that did it to us again!

    Blog text (16)
  • She considered his rascally comments funny, even if they were a bit dishonest.

Synonyms

corrupt
vsrascally
291 4.4

Willing to act dishonestly to gain money or power

is more of a mischievous character trait than systematic corruption
dishonest
vsrascally
128 2.5

Likely to lie or cheat to get something for yourself

is more playful and cheeky rather than purely self-serving
shady
vsrascally
  • Informal
79 5.5

Not honest and likely to do illegal things

is more openly playful and less tied to illegal schemes
unscrupulous
vsrascally
25 7.5

A person or company that is not honest and tries to take advantage of others

is less severe in tone and often more mischievous
up to no good
vsrascally
  • Informal
19 7.4

Acting in a secret or suspicious way to do something wrong

is more a personal, charming disposition than mere suspicious acts
venal
vsrascally
  • Formal
9 9.1

Willing to take money to do illegal or dishonest things

is broader and more characterful rather than motivated by payment
weaselly
vsrascally
  • Informal
4 8.4

A person who acts sneaky and dishonest to avoid clear answers

is more openly bold and often more charming than slyness
roguish
vsrascally
3 6.7

Showing playful, friendly mischief

is similar but can imply more genuine moral wrongdoing
scoundrelly
vsrascally
  • Offensive
9.1

Dishonest and cruel in ways that hurt others

is lighter and more roguish than that serious immorality
blackguardly
vsrascally
  • Offensive
9.9

Being cruel and dishonest in a way that hurts other people

is less harsh and more cheeky in its wrongdoing
carny
vsrascally
  • Offensive
9.9

Dishonest in a way that makes you think of a scam

is less slangy and more gently roguish in tone

Antonyms

1.0

Truthful and fair, not cheating or lying

35 4.3

Being morally good and doing what is right

15 4.0

Behaving honestly and following strong moral rules

How Dishonest

corrupt
291 4.4
rascally
  • Informal
1 7.0
dishonest
128 2.5
untrustworthy
21 4.8

Surface Forms

rascally positive

Morphology

rascally = rascal (transparent) = rascal + ly

Regular adjective formation from 'rascal' indicating 'characteristic of a rascal'.

Etymology

Rascally comes from rascal, an old word for a dishonest or low person from Old French, originally meaning 'rabble'. That's why rascally can also mean dishonest or mean behavior, like a trick by a 'rascal'.