knavish
Like a scoundrel
Knavish means dishonest or unscrupulous in a crafty way—the behavior of a knave.
The word is old-fashioned and literary, more likely found in Shakespeare than modern speech: What a knavish trick!
It suggests petty villainy rather than grand evil, the cunning of a rogue rather than a tyrant.
Lovable troublemaker
- scoundrelDishonest, unscrupulous person
- rapscallionMischievous person, usually endearing
- rogueDishonest or uncontrolled agent
- scalawagAffectionate term for rogue
blackguard · villain · cad · scamp · ne'er-do-well · miscreant · reprobate · wastrel
Of the Stratford playwright
- ElizabethanOf late 1500s England
- varletBase fellow or servant
- villainWicked story antagonist
- rascalLovable troublemaker
blackguard · caitiff · recreant · miscreant · scurvy · base · churlish · cozening
Playfully mischievous in manner
- prankishFond of tricks
- puckishWhimsically inclined to tease
- waggishHumorously mischievous in manner
- roguishMischievously charming
sly · elfin · pixie · sportive · teasing · cheeky · naughty · playful
Inclined to mislead others
- untrustworthyNot deserving of confidence
- corruptDishonest, open to bribes
- crookedBent or dishonest
- fraudulentInvolving intentional dishonesty
dishonorable · duplicitous · treacherous · underhanded · perfidious · false · unethical · deceptive
Devising a secret plan
- intrigueSecret plotting or fascination
- machinationCrafty scheming, often hostile
- stratagemDeceptive plan for advantage
- subterfugeDeliberate deception to conceal
cunning · crafty · guile · artifice · manipulation · connivance · wily · devious
rascal
Lovable troublemaker
- scoundrelDishonest, unscrupulous person
- rapscallionMischievous person, usually endearing
- rogueDishonest or uncontrolled agent
scalawag · blackguard · villain · cad · scamp · ne'er-do-well · miscreant · reprobate · wastrel · good-for-nothing
Shakespearean
Of the Stratford playwright
- ElizabethanOf late 1500s England
- varletBase fellow or servant
- villainWicked story antagonist
rascal · blackguard · caitiff · recreant · miscreant · scurvy · base · churlish · cozening · dissembling
impish
Playfully mischievous in manner
roguish · sly · elfin · pixie · sportive · teasing · cheeky · naughty · playful · frolicsome
deceitful
Inclined to mislead others
- untrustworthyNot deserving of confidence
- corruptDishonest, open to bribes
- crookedBent or dishonest
fraudulent · dishonorable · duplicitous · treacherous · underhanded · perfidious · false · unethical · deceptive · malfeasant
plotting
Devising a secret plan
- intrigueSecret plotting or fascination
- machinationCrafty scheming, often hostile
- stratagemDeceptive plan for advantage
subterfuge · cunning · crafty · guile · artifice · manipulation · connivance · wily · devious · designing
swindler
Person who deceives for money
impostor · conman · fraudster · grifter · mountebank · trickster · flimflammer · huckster · sharper · scammer