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Glite Dictionary
roguish smile

roguish smile

5.3
A playful, slightly naughty smile that shows someone is teasing
  • noun
  • /ˈroʊɡɪʃ smaɪl/
translation icon : sonrisa pícara
  • She couldn't help but respond to his roguish smile, which hinted at his mischievous nature.

Examples

  • "You know," he said, favoring Heliya with a roguish smile, "with emperor penguins, the mothers go off and hunt for food."

    Fiction book (1999)

  • Braden always responded to the women he met with a roguish smile.

    Fiction book (2002)

  • He greeted her with a roguish smile, suggesting that he had a playful secret.

  • With a roguish smile, he playfully teased her about her choice of shoes.

Synonyms

saucy smile
vsroguish smile
1 4.8

A playful look that shows confidence or teasing

is more mischievous and attractive rather than openly flirtatious
sidey grin
vsroguish smile
  • Informal
8.9

A sly smile that shows someone knows a secret or wants to tease

is more openly attractive and playful rather than secretly sly

Antonyms

frown
54 1.0

A facial expression with the eyebrows pushed together showing dislike or worry

to grimace
29 4.4

To twist your face to show pain, disgust, or a forced smile

How Playful

roguish smile
5.3
warm smile
4 1.0

Surface Forms

roguish smile singular
roguish smiles plural

Morphology

roguish + smile

The meaning is directly and compositionally derived from 'roguish' (playfully naughty/charming) modifying 'smile' (a facial expression), so a learner who knows both words can infer a playful/mischievous smile. This straightforward adjective+noun combination is cross-linguistically common and not idiomatic, making it transparent to learners.

Etymology

Roguish smile comes from the old word rogue, used for a cheeky or slightly dishonest person, and gives the picture of someone giving a small, playful grin. That's why a roguish smile means a look that is attractive and 'mischievous' or 'playful'.