scoundrel

noun

scoun·​drel ˈskau̇n-drəl How to pronounce scoundrel (audio)
Synonyms of scoundrel
: a disreputable person : rascal
scoundrel adjective
scoundrelly
ˈskau̇n-drə-lē How to pronounce scoundrel (audio)
adjective

Synonyms of scoundrel

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Examples of scoundrel in a Sentence

some scoundrel stole my wallet
Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Hawks is the grounding force of Zero Company, the down-to-Earth scoundrel that keeps everyone humble. — Hayes Madsen, Space.com, 26 Aug. 2026 That range runs from scoundrels to astromechs, and a Jedi is on the table too. — Brian Mazique, Forbes.com, 15 Aug. 2026 But Roy Cohn—an American scoundrel and the lawyer who helped send Julius and Ethel Rosenberg to the electric chair, aided Senator Joseph McCarthy in implementing the Red Scare, and showed Trump the ropes in the real-estate business—was long gone. — Kai Bird, New Yorker, 3 Aug. 2026 And the surviving cartel scoundrels take the parting shot by kidnapping beloved Carter, putting a hood on him and taking the boy off. — Bryan Alexander, USA Today, 3 July 2026 See All Example Sentences for scoundrel

Word History

Etymology

origin unknown

First Known Use

1589, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of scoundrel was in 1589

Browse Nearby Words

scouch
scoundrel
scoundreldom
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Scoundrel.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/scoundrel. Accessed 1 Sep. 2026.

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Kids Definition

scoundrel

noun
scoun·​drel ˈskau̇n-drəl How to pronounce scoundrel (audio)
: a mean or wicked person : villain
scoundrelly
-drə-lē How to pronounce scoundrel (audio)
adjective
Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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