scalawag

noun

scal·​a·​wag ˈska-li-ˌwag 

variants or scallywag

1

: scamp, reprobate

2

: a white Southerner acting in support of the reconstruction governments after the American Civil War often for private gain

Synonyms

• baddie
• baddy
• beast
• brute
• caitiff
• devil
• evildoer
• fiend
• heavy
• hound
• knave
• meanie
• meany
• miscreant
• monster
• nazi
• no-good
• rapscallion
• rascal
• reprobate
• rogue
• savage
• scamp
• scapegrace
• scoundrel
• varlet
• villain
• wretch

Examples of scalawag in a Sentence

a scalawag who had taken to begging on street corners while posing as a blind person

Recent Examples on the Web

Among the most memorable was the Oyster Wars, a series of clashes dating back to the 1830s with scalawags descending from all over, looking to cash in on the valuable bivalves. —Baltimore Sun Editorial Board, Baltimore Sun, 2 July 2024

The large cast, costumed and made up as a fitly scalawags and sinister buccaneers, gives tremendous energy to every scene. —Kirk Honeycutt, The Hollywood Reporter, 7 July 2023

Chadha-Patel is ambiguously charming as a scalawag not entirely out for himself. —cleveland, 1 Dec. 2022

Word History

Etymology

origin unknown

First Known Use

circa 1848, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Kids Definition

scalawag

noun

scal·​a·​wag

variants or scallywag

ˈskal-i-ˌwag

1

: rascal sense 2

2

: a white Southerner acting in support of the reconstruction governments after the American Civil War often for private gain