Definition

Adverb: 1. In a mischievously playful or teasing manner: Behaving in a way that is playfully naughty or cheeky, often in a charming or amusing way. 2. In a deceitful or dishonest manner: Acting like a rogue or scoundrel; behaving in a way that is untrustworthy or fraudulent.

Usage Examples

• In a mischievously playful manner:
  • He winked at her roguishly, hinting at a shared secret.
  • The child grinned roguishly after hiding his father's keys.
• In a deceitful manner:
  • The merchant roguishly swapped the genuine gem for a fake.
  • He roguishly intended to keep the money he found, knowing it wasn't his.

Advanced Usage

• Literary/Descriptive Use: Often used in literature to describe a character's charmingly mischievous behavior or expression.
  • The pirate captain smiled roguishly, his eyes full of daring plans.
• Conveying Ambiguity: Can describe an action that straddles the line between playful teasing and mild dishonesty.
  • He made a roguishly vague promise, with no real intention of keeping it.

Variants and Related Words

• Rogue (noun): A dishonest or unprincipled person; a playful, mischievous person.
• Roguery (noun): Dishonest or unprincipled behavior; playful mischief.
• Roguish (adjective): Characteristic of a rogue; playfully mischievous.

Synonyms

• Mischievously: In a playful, naughty, or teasing way.
• Knavishly: In a dishonest, untrustworthy manner (more archaic).
• Impishly: In a mischievous, elf-like way.
• Deceitfully: In a manner intended to deceive.

Antonyms

• Honestly: In a truthful and sincere manner.
• Soberly: In a serious, solemn, or restrained manner.
• Earnestly: In a sincere and serious manner.

Related Phrases and Idioms

• A roguish smile/charm: A smile or charm that is appealingly mischievous or suggestive of playful wrongdoing.
  • He won her over with his roguish charm.
• To have a roguish twinkle in one's eye: To have a playful, mischievous look in one's expression.
  • The old storyteller had a roguish twinkle in his eye as he began his tale.

Adverb

1. in a playfully roguish manner
   • he winked at her roguishly
2. like a dishonest rogue
   • he roguishly intended to keep the money