as in scoundrel
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as in to insult
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Recent Examples of blackguard
Washington Post, 17 Nov. 2020
The endurance of nationalism proves that there’s never any shortage of blackguards willing to prop up people’s sense of themselves and their destiny with a tissue of myths and prophecies, prejudices and hatreds, or to empty out old rubbish bags full of festering resentments and calls to violence.
—Jill Lepore, Foreign Affairs, 5 Feb. 2019
Despite all the worry about Fukushima, smokers have been inhaling radioactive particles for decadesNicotine - murder weapon of choice for the 19th century blackguard, by Deborah Blum.
—Ed Yong, Discover Magazine, 26 May 2012
Noun
Edgar finds work in the hamlet of Dreng’s Ferry with Dreng himself, an all-around blackguard, but eventually Edgar’s intelligence and capability propel him into the building trade.
—Washington Post, 17 Nov. 2020
The endurance of nationalism proves that there’s never any shortage of blackguards willing to prop up people’s sense of themselves and their destiny with a tissue of myths and prophecies, prejudices and hatreds, or to empty out old rubbish bags full of festering resentments and calls to violence.
—Jill Lepore, Foreign Affairs, 5 Feb. 2019
Despite all the worry about Fukushima, smokers have been inhaling radioactive particles for decadesNicotine - murder weapon of choice for the 19th century blackguard, by Deborah Blum.
—Ed Yong, Discover Magazine, 26 May 2012
Recent Examples of Synonyms for blackguard
Noun
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Sure, the Oscar-winning makeup helps transform the actor into Cheney, but the voice and petulance are all Bale, whose conjuring of this scoundrel ought to trigger PTSD for anyone who survived the Dubya years.—
Tim Grierson,
Vulture,
7 Mar. 2026
-
Political leaders who encourage or tolerate such scoundrels should be driven from office.—
Tom Nichols,
The Atlantic,
23 Feb. 2026
Verb
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The situation reached a breaking point when Sullivan started mocking and insulting Morgan’s wife, the journalist and author Celia Walden.—
Elsa Keslassy,
Variety,
19 Mar. 2026
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The walkout followed HStikkytokky, real name Harrison Sullivan, insulting Morgan’s wife and making false allegations about the presenter’s links to Jeffrey Epstein.—
Jake Kanter,
Deadline,
19 Mar. 2026
Noun
-
How does history distinguish knaves from legendary figures?—
W.E. Gutman,
Sun Sentinel,
8 July 2025
-
Human beings are motivated by virtue (knights) or rigid self-interest (knaves), or are passive victims of their circumstances (pawns).—
Sachin H. Jain,
Forbes,
20 Dec. 2024
Verb
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In 2022, Manhattan Federal Judge Jed Rakoff, who presided over both trials, decided The Times was not liable for defamation while jurors were deliberating, that the error amounted to unfortunate editorializing but not libel.—
Molly Crane-Newman,
New York Daily News,
22 Apr. 2025
-
As a new, inexpensive Chevrolet appeared in 1927 and The Dearborn Independent was sued for libeling a number of Jewish businessmen, Ford threw in the towel and apologized.—
George Pendle,
airmail.news,
15 Mar. 2025
Noun
-
There are no villains—or maybe life, or growing up, or getting older, is the villain.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
25 Mar. 2026
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His grandiose persona rubbed many the wrong way early on, earning him a villain label.—
Pamela Chelin,
Los Angeles Times,
25 Mar. 2026
Verb
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While authorities noted in the arrest report that Falcinelli smelled of alcohol, had slurred speech and blurry eyes, there was no mention of a sobriety test being administered.—
Devoun Cetoute,
Miami Herald,
24 Feb. 2026
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Today, the son of a Ronald Reagan appointee chats amiably on his show with Holocaust deniers, slurs Volodymyr Zelensky, and praises Vladimir Putin.—
The Week US,
TheWeek,
11 Feb. 2026
Noun
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That rogues’ gallery includes such reprobates as Maura Healey, the fake Indian, Ed Markey, Seth Moulton, crackpot leftist Juliette Kayyem… Percentage of contribution Summers made to Democrats: 100 percent.—
Howie Carr,
Boston Herald,
22 Nov. 2025
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Unlike Vegas with its cast of reprobates and wackos, this joint is classy and clean and just a wee bit indulgent.—
David Weiss,
Forbes.com,
13 Sep. 2025
Noun
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Tracy Letts is one such person, but his Chicago anecdote paints Colbert as a cad.—
Bethy Squires,
Vulture,
9 Jan. 2026
-
Facing pressure to sire a child, Jerome tosses a crude wager the way of his dashing but dim-witted Lothario-like chum Manfred (Nicholas Galitzine) – a bet that the handsome cad won’t be able to woo Cherry and bed her while he’s gone for 100 nights.—
Randy Myers,
Mercury News,
3 Dec. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Blackguard.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/blackguard. Accessed 30 Mar. 2026.
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