blackguards
Wicked, dishonorable men
Blackguards are scoundrels or villains—people of low character who behave dishonorably.
The word is old-fashioned and literary, often appearing in historical fiction or period drama: The blackguards robbed the coach and left the passengers stranded.
To blackguard someone is to abuse or revile them.
The pronunciation often drops the middle syllable: BLAG-erd.
Evil characters in narratives
- roguesDishonest or deviant individuals
- rascalsMischievous troublemakers
- knavesDeceitful, unscrupulous men
- scoundrelsDishonest, unprincipled people
miscreants · reprobates · cads · ne'er-do-wells · scalawags · rapscallions · varlets · bounders
Serious crime offenders
- outlawsFugitives from justice
- thievesThose who commit larceny
- burglarsThose who illegally enter
- gangstersOrganized crime members
brigands · highwaymen · bandits · cutthroats · desperadoes · pirates · marauders · ruffians
Abusively false and insulting
- baseSupporting bottom structure
- ignobleLacking moral character
- vileExtremely unpleasant or bad
- despicableMorally worthless, beneath regard
contemptible · infamous · disreputable · nefarious · shameless · corrupt · depraved · unprincipled
Pretenders to special knowledge
- fraudstersPeople who deceive for gain
- conmenThose who defraud through deception
- cheatsDeceives for advantage
- deceiversThose who mislead intentionally
impostors · tricksters · grifters · mountebanks · sharpers · hustlers · flimflammers · sharks
Sensational, emotionally overwrought drama
- VictorianOf a prim era
- swashbucklerDaring, flamboyant swordsman
- DickensianGrimly poor, socially unjust
- penny dreadfulCheap Victorian crime serial
pulp · archvillain · nemesis · antagonist · cloak-and-dagger · bodice-ripper · potboiler · romance novel
villains
Evil characters in narratives
- roguesDishonest or deviant individuals
- rascalsMischievous troublemakers
- knavesDeceitful, unscrupulous men
scoundrels · miscreants · reprobates · cads · ne'er-do-wells · scalawags · rapscallions · varlets · bounders · heels
felons
Serious crime offenders
gangsters · brigands · highwaymen · bandits · cutthroats · desperadoes · pirates · marauders · ruffians · hoodlums
scurrilous
Abusively false and insulting
despicable · contemptible · infamous · disreputable · nefarious · shameless · corrupt · depraved · unprincipled · unscrupulous
charlatans
Pretenders to special knowledge
- fraudstersPeople who deceive for gain
- conmenThose who defraud through deception
- cheatsDeceives for advantage
deceivers · impostors · tricksters · grifters · mountebanks · sharpers · hustlers · flimflammers · sharks · schemers
melodrama
Sensational, emotionally overwrought drama
- VictorianOf a prim era
- swashbucklerDaring, flamboyant swordsman
- DickensianGrimly poor, socially unjust
penny dreadful · pulp · archvillain · nemesis · antagonist · cloak-and-dagger · bodice-ripper · potboiler · romance novel
blackguardsheroes
Admired courageous figures
saints · paragons · benefactors · philanthropists · do-gooders