knavery
Scoundrel's typical behavior
Knavery is dishonest or underhanded behavior—the conduct of a knave.
The word belongs to an older register of English, appearing in Shakespeare and period literature: What knavery is this?
Modern use tends toward the playful or ironic, describing petty scheming or mischief rather than serious villainy.
Dishonest, unscrupulous person
- rascalLovable troublemaker
- villainWicked story antagonist
- rogueDishonest or uncontrolled agent
- blackguardContemptible, dishonest person
rapscallion · scalawag · miscreant · ne'er-do-well · varlet · cad · reprobate · swindler
Playfully mischievous character
- rascalityDishonest or mischievous conduct
- impishnessPlayful mischievous quality
- devilryWicked or mischievous conduct
- waggishnessPlayful, teasing humor
prankishness · naughtiness · troublemaking · monkeyshines · shenanigans · tomfoolery · high jinks · antics
Deliberate misleading behavior
- guileSly, strategic dishonesty
- deceptionIntentional misleading of others
- chicaneryDeception through clever manipulation
- dissemblingConcealing true motives
artifice · subterfuge · perfidy · treachery · falseness · dishonesty · double-dealing · two-facedness
Devising a secret plan
- connivingSecretly planning wrongdoing
- machinationCrafty scheming, often hostile
- intrigueSecret plotting or fascination
- conspiracyClandestine coordinated scheming
manipulation · stratagem · ploy · ruse · gambit · maneuver · wile · contrivance
Argument against
- scamDishonest money-making scheme
- fraudIntentional criminal trickery
- swindleDeception for financial gain
- flimflamDeceptive scheme or nonsense
grift · hustle · racket · bunco · bamboozlement · hoodwinking · bilking · defrauding
scoundrel
Dishonest, unscrupulous person
blackguard · rapscallion · scalawag · miscreant · ne'er-do-well · varlet · cad · reprobate · swindler · charlatan
roguishness
Playfully mischievous character
- rascalityDishonest or mischievous conduct
- impishnessPlayful mischievous quality
- devilryWicked or mischievous conduct
waggishness · prankishness · naughtiness · troublemaking · monkeyshines · shenanigans · tomfoolery · high jinks · antics · capers
duplicity
Deliberate misleading behavior
- guileSly, strategic dishonesty
- deceptionIntentional misleading of others
- chicaneryDeception through clever manipulation
dissembling · artifice · subterfuge · perfidy · treachery · falseness · dishonesty · double-dealing · two-facedness · mendacity
plotting
Devising a secret plan
- connivingSecretly planning wrongdoing
- machinationCrafty scheming, often hostile
- intrigueSecret plotting or fascination
conspiracy · manipulation · stratagem · ploy · ruse · gambit · maneuver · wile · contrivance · cunning
con
Argument against
- scamDishonest money-making scheme
- fraudIntentional criminal trickery
- swindleDeception for financial gain
flimflam · grift · hustle · racket · bunco · bamboozlement · hoodwinking · bilking · defrauding · cheating
knaveryhonesty
Truthfulness, sincerity
integrity · uprightness · rectitude · probity · virtue
knaverycandor
Unguarded truthfulness
openheartedness · forthrightness · straightforwardness · sincerity · plain dealing
- knave of heartsRed suit face card
- knave of clubsClub-suited court card