as in mischievous
tending to or exhibiting reckless playfulness
those rascally boys had let all of the lab mice out of their cages
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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
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Creative courage returns as the instinctive Moon conjoins mischievous Mercury in your 5th House of Play, urging you to express whatever stirs within.—
Tarot.com,
Baltimore Sun,
17 Mar. 2026
-
However, his capacity to transform physically yet never lose the beautiful mind and mischievous spirit of genius Stephen Hawking, living with the paralyzing effects of ALS, is what's supremely remarkable about his performance.—
Devan Coggan,
Entertainment Weekly,
15 Mar. 2026
Adjective
-
Datebook Picks The wicked original was a black satire with ripping action and a kick-ass lead played with intelligence.—
Michael Ordoña,
San Francisco Chronicle,
18 Mar. 2026
-
Like Becky Sharp, the willful, wicked lead of William Makepeace Thackeray’s Vanity Fair, Heidi rolled her eyes at her dutiful counterpart.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
18 Mar. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Rascally.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/rascally. Accessed 21 Mar. 2026.
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