roguish
/'rougiʃ/
Học thuậtThân thiện
Definition
Adjective: 1. Lacking principles or scruples; behaving in a dishonest, mischievous, or unprincipled way. 2. Playful in an appealingly bold, mischievous, or saucy manner.
Usage
The word "roguish" describes a person or their behavior/expression. It can carry a negative connotation of dishonesty or a positive, charming connotation of playful mischief. The intended meaning is often clarified by context.
Examples
- He gave her a roguish wink, hinting at a shared secret. (Here, "roguish" implies charming, playful boldness.)
- The novel's hero is a roguish adventurer who often bends the rules. (This suggests a charming lack of scruples.)
- The roguish crew plotted to mutiny against the captain. (This emphasizes a dishonest, unprincipled nature.)
- She had a roguish sense of humor that both delighted and exasperated her friends. (This describes appealingly mischievous playfulness.)
Advanced Usage
- "Roguish charm": A common phrase describing an attractive quality that stems from a mischievous or slightly disreputable character.
- Despite his reputation, he disarmed critics with his roguish charm.
Variants and Related Words
- Rogue (n): A dishonest or unprincipled person; a playful, mischievous person. This is the noun from which "roguish" is derived.
- Roguishly (adv): In a roguish manner.
- He smiled roguishly.
- Roguishness (n): The quality of being roguish.
Synonyms
- For the dishonest meaning: Unprincipled, rascally, scoundrelly, knavish, deceitful.
- For the playful meaning: Mischievous, impish, playful, sly, saucy, arch.
Idioms and Phrases
While not a standalone idiom, "roguish" frequently appears in the set phrase "roguish grin/smile/wink" to describe an expression that is knowingly playful, cheeky, or suggestive of shared mischief.
Adjective
- lacking principles or scruples
- the rascally rabble
- the tyranny of a scoundrelly aristocracy - W.M. Thackaray
- the captain was set adrift by his roguish crew
- playful in an appealingly bold way
- a roguish grin