as in mischievous
tending to or exhibiting reckless playfulness
those rascally boys had let all of the lab mice out of their cages
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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.
Recent Examples of rascally
If a rascally possum does become a problem, here's how to get rid of it and keep that opossum away.
—
Arricca Elin Sansone, Southern Living, 6 Aug. 2025
In 1950, scientists deployed a virus called Myxoma to destroy the rascally rabbits.
—Bethany Brookshire, Smithsonian Magazine, 8 Dec. 2022
The Los Angeles Rams, starring as the rascally rabbit, defeated the slow-and-deliberate Cincinnati Bengals in a fascinating case study between completely opposite approaches to team-building.
—Eddie Brown, San Diego Union-Tribune, 16 Feb. 2022
Esty’s flight from Brooklyn has the feel of a thriller, complete with a cat-and-mouse chase as Yanky and his rascally cousin Moishe fly to Germany in pursuit.
—Rachel Syme, The New Yorker, 9 Apr. 2020
Mitch and Haylie Ferguson said the rascally rodent had somehow gotten into the fireplace, then proceeded to go on a 10-minute rampage running around the living room, news agency SWNS reports.
—Fox News, 19 Dec. 2019
The event, which is already sold-out in the elegant waterfront Clipper Room at Hammond Marina, will include topics from the history of farming to today's gardening and wrangling with rascally rabbit populations.
—Philip Potempa, Post-Tribune, 30 Mar. 2018
Oldest sib Creighton, 32, thought back to the family’s former home, the Cleveland suburb of Rocky River, and the cops who’d bug him and his rascally brothers around town.
—Sean Gregory/bongpyeong, Time, 11 Feb. 2018
Arricca Elin Sansone, Southern Living, 6 Aug. 2025
In 1950, scientists deployed a virus called Myxoma to destroy the rascally rabbits.
—Bethany Brookshire, Smithsonian Magazine, 8 Dec. 2022
The Los Angeles Rams, starring as the rascally rabbit, defeated the slow-and-deliberate Cincinnati Bengals in a fascinating case study between completely opposite approaches to team-building.
—Eddie Brown, San Diego Union-Tribune, 16 Feb. 2022
Esty’s flight from Brooklyn has the feel of a thriller, complete with a cat-and-mouse chase as Yanky and his rascally cousin Moishe fly to Germany in pursuit.
—Rachel Syme, The New Yorker, 9 Apr. 2020
Mitch and Haylie Ferguson said the rascally rodent had somehow gotten into the fireplace, then proceeded to go on a 10-minute rampage running around the living room, news agency SWNS reports.
—Fox News, 19 Dec. 2019
The event, which is already sold-out in the elegant waterfront Clipper Room at Hammond Marina, will include topics from the history of farming to today's gardening and wrangling with rascally rabbit populations.
—Philip Potempa, Post-Tribune, 30 Mar. 2018
Oldest sib Creighton, 32, thought back to the family’s former home, the Cleveland suburb of Rocky River, and the cops who’d bug him and his rascally brothers around town.
—Sean Gregory/bongpyeong, Time, 11 Feb. 2018
Recent Examples of Synonyms for rascally
Adjective
-
Clearly, Rascal lived up to his mischievous name by finding the well in the first place.—
TJ Macias,
Miami Herald,
29 Oct. 2025
-
Mykal-Michelle Harris from Raven’s Home guest-stars as Ruby, a mischievous moon imp who tricks Vee.—
Allison McClain Merrill,
Parents,
27 Oct. 2025
Adjective
-
With the launch of the Culling Game in the aftermath, 10 colonies from across Japan are transformed into dens of curses as part of a plot orchestrated by the most wicked sorcerer in history, Noritoshi Kamo.—
Nick Romano,
Entertainment Weekly,
7 Nov. 2025
-
The rhymes are wicked smart, clever and memorable.—
Jim Harrington,
Mercury News,
6 Nov. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Rascally.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/rascally. Accessed 19 Nov. 2025.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share