scoundrel

Everyday

(old-fashioned) A wicked, dishonest person who cheats or does bad things to others. tree →

In the lessons

A villain word in older stories, plays and cartoons: «You scoundrel!» In The Wind in the Willows the weasels and stoats who seize Toad Hall are called villains and scoundrels; when Toad steals the car, the magistrate calls him an incorrigible rogue and a hardened ruffian.

Examples

• «You scoundrel!» shouted the captain. tree →
• The scoundrel stole the old lady's purse. tree →
• The weasels were a gang of scoundrels. tree →
• The story is about a scoundrel who cheats a whole town. tree →
• He was a charming scoundrel. tree →
• The scoundrel ran off with the money. tree →
• “G-g-gone?” cried the herdsman. “Scoundrel, you lie!” tree →

Note

Old-fashioned: today people say «crook», «villain» or «rogue». It is an insult, but not a swear word.