as in villains
a mean, evil, or unprincipled person
some scoundrel stole my wallet
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Recent Examples of scoundrels
New Orleans has long been notorious for embracing such scoundrels, a reputation that isn’t exactly helped by the fact that, for many years, disgraced attorneys who lost their licenses in Louisiana and applied for readmission to the bar often got it.
—
Patrick Radden Keefe, New Yorker, 13 Apr. 2026
Political leaders who encourage or tolerate such scoundrels should be driven from office.
—Tom Nichols, The Atlantic, 23 Feb. 2026
Giannis, a gentleman even in this era of scoundrels, likely wants to do right by the Bucks, too.
—Dieter Kurtenbach, Mercury News, 3 Dec. 2025
These twin influences, religious fervor and a preoccupation with dangerous men, would go on to define the next six decades of the director’s working life, finding expression as a conviction that even scoundrels are in possession of a soul.
—Graham Hillard, The Washington Examiner, 31 Oct. 2025
Meanwhile, the nation’s financial titans, so admired during the boom years, were recast as villains and scoundrels.
—Barbara Spindel, Christian Science Monitor, 21 Oct. 2025
Swashbucklers, scoundrels, bandits and buccaneers will soon be bellying up to the bar inside a lively new pirate pub at Walt Disney World that’s already booked solid for the first two months and promises to be a must-have reservation for visitors.
—Brady MacDonald, Oc Register, 29 Aug. 2025
Patrick Radden Keefe, New Yorker, 13 Apr. 2026
Political leaders who encourage or tolerate such scoundrels should be driven from office.
—Tom Nichols, The Atlantic, 23 Feb. 2026
Giannis, a gentleman even in this era of scoundrels, likely wants to do right by the Bucks, too.
—Dieter Kurtenbach, Mercury News, 3 Dec. 2025
These twin influences, religious fervor and a preoccupation with dangerous men, would go on to define the next six decades of the director’s working life, finding expression as a conviction that even scoundrels are in possession of a soul.
—Graham Hillard, The Washington Examiner, 31 Oct. 2025
Meanwhile, the nation’s financial titans, so admired during the boom years, were recast as villains and scoundrels.
—Barbara Spindel, Christian Science Monitor, 21 Oct. 2025
Swashbucklers, scoundrels, bandits and buccaneers will soon be bellying up to the bar inside a lively new pirate pub at Walt Disney World that’s already booked solid for the first two months and promises to be a must-have reservation for visitors.
—Brady MacDonald, Oc Register, 29 Aug. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for scoundrels
Noun
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The ones to watch out for are the ones who should be villains that aren’t.—
Bethy Squires,
Vulture,
4 May 2026
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The iconic heroes and villains will join familiar faces already found throughout the outpost, including Ahsoka Tano, the Mandalorian, Grogu, R2-D2, Rey and more.—
Colson Thayer,
PEOPLE,
29 Apr. 2026
Noun
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That’s happened in several Mid Atlantic rivers, but in the absence of larger brutes like blues and flathead, channels will thrive and can break the 15-pound mark.—
Joe Cermele,
Outdoor Life,
9 Apr. 2026
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In Raspail’s tale, hordes of impoverished and dark-skinned brutes from India descend onto French shores by way of rafts, the first wave of an invasion of the civilized West by the brown-skinned developing world.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
8 Apr. 2026
Noun
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However, Connecticut Citizens Defense League President Holly Sullivan told Fox News Digital that statewide Democrats chose to go after law-abiding citizens instead of criminals by passing this piece of legislation.—
Adam Sabes,
FOXNews.com,
9 May 2026
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Immigration policy is destroying the lives of families, not criminals.—
Kinsey Crowley,
USA Today,
8 May 2026
Cite this Entry
“Scoundrels.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/scoundrels. Accessed 13 May. 2026.
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