scoundrelly

/'skaundrəli/

Thân thiện

The captain was set adrift by his scoundrelly crew.

Definition

1. Adjective:
   • Behaving in a dishonest, unprincipled, or wicked manner; characteristic of a scoundrel. It describes a person or their actions as being deeply dishonorable, deceitful, and lacking moral integrity.

Usage

• The word scoundrelly is used to describe behavior or character that is contemptibly dishonest or villainous. It is a strong, somewhat formal or literary term of condemnation.
• It typically functions as an attributive adjective (placed before a noun) or as a predicate adjective (following a linking verb like 'was').

Examples

• Attributive use (before a noun):
  • The town was tired of the merchant's scoundrelly schemes to cheat his customers.
  • They were victims of a scoundrelly plot to steal their inheritance.
• Predicative use (after a linking verb):
  • His actions were utterly scoundrelly and unforgivable.
  • The lawyer proved that the contract was based on scoundrelly intentions.

Advanced Usage

• Literary/Historical Context: The term is often found in historical narratives, classic literature, or formal accusations to evoke a sense of archaic or heightened villainy.
  • The novel's hero finally exposed the baron's scoundrelly past.

Variants and Related Words

• Scoundrel (n): A dishonest or unscrupulous person; a villain.
  • That scoundrel stole my wallet!
• Rascally (adj): Similar to scoundrelly, suggesting mischievous or dishonest behavior.
• Roguish (adj): Behaving in a mischievous or playfully dishonest way, often with less severe moral condemnation than scoundrelly.

Synonyms

• Villainous: Wicked or criminal behavior.
• Dastardly: Treacherous and cowardly.
• Unprincipled: Lacking moral principles.
• Knavish (archaic): Dishonest.

Antonyms

• Honorable: Having principles and integrity.
• Upright: Morally correct.
• Noble: Having fine personal qualities and high moral principles.

Idioms and Phrases

• While there is no common idiom using the exact word scoundrelly, the related noun is used in phrases like:
  • A scoundrel of the first water: An absolute or complete scoundrel (archaic).

    • The pirate captain was a scoundrel of the first water.

Học thuật

Adjective

1. 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

Từ đồng nghĩa

• rascally
• roguish
• blackguardly