rakish

1 of 2

adjective (1)

rak·​ish ˈrā-kish How to pronounce rakish (audio)
: of, relating to, or characteristic of a rake : dissolute

rakish

2 of 2

adjective (2)

1
: having a trim or streamlined appearance suggestive of speed
a rakish ship
2
: dashingly or carelessly unconventional : jaunty
rakish clothes

Examples of rakish in a Sentence

Adjective (1) within a few short years their rakish son had squandered the family fortune on hard liquor and fast cars
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.
Adjective
There was also plenty of head and legroom up front, and the steering wheel offered plenty of reach, but backseat passengers north of six feet struggled for space because of the HR-V’s rakish roofline. Matthew MacConnell, Forbes.com, 27 June 2025 Like the rakish characters in La Piscine, those in Last Summer are caught in a folie à plusieurs, where the idyllic, island setting seems to arouse their worst impulses. Erik Morse, Vogue, 26 June 2025 Louvers in the rakish glass hatch instantly recall the classic split-window Sting Ray of 1963, the one-year-only styling created by GM designer Larry Shinoda, the son of Japanese immigrants. Lawrence Ulrich, Robb Report, 25 June 2025 However, larger dogs will struggle for headroom because of the BYD Sealion 7’s rakish roofline. Matthew MacConnell, Forbes.com, 9 Apr. 2025 See All Example Sentences for rakish

Word History

Etymology

Adjective (1)

rake entry 5

Adjective (2)

probably from rake entry 4; from the raking masts of pirate ships

First Known Use

Adjective (1)

1696, in the meaning defined above

Adjective (2)

1824, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of rakish was in 1696

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Rakish.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/rakish. Accessed 7 Jul. 2025.

Kids Definition

rakish

1 of 2 adjective
rak·​ish ˈrā-kish How to pronounce rakish (audio)
: of or resembling that of a rake : dissolute
rakishly adverb
rakishness noun

rakish

2 of 2 adjective
1
: having a trim or streamlined look that suggests speed
a rakish ship
a rakish sports car
2
: jaunty, dashing
rakish clothes
rakishly adverb
rakishness noun
Etymology

Adjective

from rake "libertine"

Adjective

from earlier rake "the amount of slope or lean of a ship's mast or the amount of overhang of a ship's bow"

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