1
as in villain
a mean, evil, or unprincipled person
the city's run-down waterfront was occupied mostly by disreputable places frequented by drunkards and rapscallions
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2
as in monkey
an appealingly mischievous person
that little rapscallion kept hiding my shoes and making me go look for them
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Recent Examples of rapscallion
At the train station where Delta Slim performs, the rapscallion Stack reunites, uneasily, with old flame Mary (Hailee Steinfeld), who has been waiting a little too long for the charming dog who ditched her.
—
Michael Phillips, Chicago Tribune, 15 Apr. 2025
Born on Christmas in 1899, Bogart was a rapscallion from the jump despite being born into a fairly well-off family.
—Harrison Richlin, IndieWire, 1 Mar. 2025
Ever since her husband died from a bee sting, the matriarch has smoothly guided her octet of rapscallions through proposals, scandals, and balloon disasters.
—Devon Ivie, Vulture, 14 June 2024
Renée Zellweger is set to return as the lovable but flailing at life Jones as is Hugh Grant as rapscallion Daniel Cleaver.
—Borys Kit, The Hollywood Reporter, 9 Apr. 2024
Klay, that other young rapscallion, is Kyle’s assistant quarterbacks coach with the Niners.
—Joe Nguyen, The Denver Post, 11 Feb. 2024
Devers’s list also includes Harlond Clift, who with a name like that couldn’t have been a ballplayer, but an actor who, oh, probably portrayed a rapscallion of a love interest for Bette Davis in a series of 1930s films.
—Chad Finn, BostonGlobe.com, 5 Apr. 2023
That rapscallion Demna Gvasalia has done it again.
—Vulture, 6 July 2022
View Photos As an out-and-out rapscallion, the quiet-riot GLI ridicules ostensibly more sporting machinery.
—Larry Griffin, Car and Driver, 15 Mar. 2023
Michael Phillips, Chicago Tribune, 15 Apr. 2025
Born on Christmas in 1899, Bogart was a rapscallion from the jump despite being born into a fairly well-off family.
—Harrison Richlin, IndieWire, 1 Mar. 2025
Ever since her husband died from a bee sting, the matriarch has smoothly guided her octet of rapscallions through proposals, scandals, and balloon disasters.
—Devon Ivie, Vulture, 14 June 2024
Renée Zellweger is set to return as the lovable but flailing at life Jones as is Hugh Grant as rapscallion Daniel Cleaver.
—Borys Kit, The Hollywood Reporter, 9 Apr. 2024
Klay, that other young rapscallion, is Kyle’s assistant quarterbacks coach with the Niners.
—Joe Nguyen, The Denver Post, 11 Feb. 2024
Devers’s list also includes Harlond Clift, who with a name like that couldn’t have been a ballplayer, but an actor who, oh, probably portrayed a rapscallion of a love interest for Bette Davis in a series of 1930s films.
—Chad Finn, BostonGlobe.com, 5 Apr. 2023
That rapscallion Demna Gvasalia has done it again.
—Vulture, 6 July 2022
View Photos As an out-and-out rapscallion, the quiet-riot GLI ridicules ostensibly more sporting machinery.
—Larry Griffin, Car and Driver, 15 Mar. 2023
Recent Examples of Synonyms for rapscallion
Noun
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With its ability to grow through asphalt and structural material, survive up to 20 years in total darkness and uproot the foundation of homes, Japanese knotweed (Fallopia japonica) could be the villain in a horror movie.—
Martha Proctor,
Mercury News,
1 May 2025
-
The Grizzlies were a gritty team by nature, and Brooks was indeed a villain.—
Kelly Iko,
New York Times,
1 May 2025
Noun
-
The women screamed as the playful monkey swept in and struck his pose.—
Lydia Patrick,
MSNBC Newsweek,
8 May 2025
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This is why she’s been able to hold the screen with Mullally and that monkey, by the way, the former playing her father Eli’s new romantic interest, Lori, and the latter as BJ’s new service animal after a fall from a stripper pole resulted in a spinal-cord injury.—
Brian Grubb,
Vulture,
1 May 2025
Noun
-
Then comes the arrival of General Zod and his two primary compatriots – a warrior woman and a silent hulking brute – who do battle with Superman around the city, causing much destruction and threatening the life of Lois Lane and her Daily Planet coworkers.—
Mark Hughes,
Forbes.com,
26 Apr. 2025
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By the end of the episode, the audience is eager to meet the antihero, the brute, that everyone is talking about.—
Maelle Beauget-Uhl,
Forbes,
14 Mar. 2025
Noun
-
Precious few bands can fill a stadium 52 years into their career — let alone play to an audience heavily populated by parents and their children, both generations sporting red devil horn headbands and cheering for 77-year-old singer Brian Johnson and white-haired guitar icon Angus Young, 70.—
Katherine Turman,
Los Angeles Times,
20 Apr. 2025
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Fire crackling in Burt’s (Christopher Walken) dining room, framing his face like a devil.—
Erik Kain,
Forbes,
21 Mar. 2025
Noun
-
Remmick is a monster, but his homeland was colonized by some of the same rapacious forces that brought the twins’ ancestors to America.—
Adam Serwer,
The Atlantic,
2 May 2025
-
Before this year, Rantanen was a playoff monster, putting up 101 points (34-67) in 81 career playoff games.—
Pierre LeBrun,
New York Times,
29 Apr. 2025
Noun
-
Alex has two choices: Linger at Union Station and see what rascals cross her path, or take up an invitation to join her British guardian angels at their home in Winnetka.—
Amanda Whiting,
Vulture,
23 Mar. 2025
-
After their car is stolen, the group of rascals must resort to some hilarious hijinks to get past the finish line.—
Kara Nesvig,
Parents,
12 Mar. 2025
Noun
-
Often regarded by historians as a collection of savage tribes, the Scythians emerge as a pivotal force of the ancient world in this monumental history.—
The New Yorker,
The New Yorker,
30 Jan. 2023
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Nearly 32 years ago, Rodney King’s savage beating by police in Los Angeles prompted heartfelt calls for change.—
Aaron Morrison, Claudia Lauer and Adrian Sainz,
Anchorage Daily News,
29 Jan. 2023
Noun
-
As the Trump administration continues deporting alleged criminals without due process, John Oliver can’t help but worry for who’s next.—
Glenn Garner,
Deadline,
4 May 2025
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She's seen meeting with fellow criminals and loading a gun in the teaser.—
Caroline Blair,
People.com,
2 May 2025
Cite this Entry
“Rapscallion.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/rapscallion. Accessed 14 May. 2025.
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