miscreant
One who misbehaves
A miscreant is a person who behaves badly or breaks rules—a wrongdoer, scoundrel, or villain.
The word carries a slightly old-fashioned or literary flavor, often used with mock seriousness: The miscreants who egged my car will pay for this.
It can describe anyone from petty troublemakers to serious criminals, though it typically suggests disapproval rather than outrage.
Serious crime perpetrator
- convictJailed offender after trial
- offenderOne who breaks rules
- culpritPerson found guilty
- perpetratorOne who commits wrongdoing
wrongdoer · malefactor · delinquent · lawbreaker · thief · burglar · robber · fraudster
Dishonest, unscrupulous person
- rascalLovable troublemaker
- knaveDishonest, unprincipled person
- swindlerPerson who deceives for money
- charlatanFaker claiming false expertise
trickster · impostor · cheat · rapscallion · scalawag · ne'er-do-well · blackguard · cad
One who causes harm
- fiendCruel person or enthusiast
- antagonistOne who opposes another
- tyrantCruel, absolute ruler
- despotRuler with absolute power
oppressor · schemer · archnemesis · baddie · brute · monster · tormentor · nemesis
One who renounces faith
- blasphemerOne who insults deity
- infidelNonbeliever in another's creed
- unbelieverOne lacking faith
- dissenterOpponent of orthodoxy
schismatic · excommunicate · backslider · nonbeliever · sinner · reprobate · fallen · ungodly
One who revolts
- dissidentOpposer of established systems
- revolutionarySeeking fundamental systemic change
- agitatorOne who foments discord
- mutineerSailor who revolts
insurrectionist · subversive · anarchist · guerrilla · renegade · defector · troublemaker · rabble-rouser
Armed roadside thief
- highwaymanMounted thief targeting travelers
- desperadoBold, reckless outlaw
- brigandArmed robber, often rural
- smugglerIllegal goods transporter
bootlegger · rustler · moonshiner · pirate · marauder · raider · pillager · plunderer
felon
Serious crime perpetrator
perpetrator · wrongdoer · malefactor · delinquent · lawbreaker · thief · burglar · robber · fraudster · forger
scoundrel
Dishonest, unscrupulous person
charlatan · trickster · impostor · cheat · rapscallion · scalawag · ne'er-do-well · blackguard · cad · scamp
evildoer
One who causes harm
- fiendCruel person or enthusiast
- antagonistOne who opposes another
- tyrantCruel, absolute ruler
despot · oppressor · schemer · archnemesis · baddie · brute · monster · tormentor · nemesis · supervillain
apostate
One who renounces faith
- blasphemerOne who insults deity
- infidelNonbeliever in another's creed
- unbelieverOne lacking faith
dissenter · schismatic · excommunicate · backslider · nonbeliever · sinner · reprobate · fallen · ungodly · irreligious
insurgent
One who revolts
- dissidentOpposer of established systems
- revolutionarySeeking fundamental systemic change
- agitatorOne who foments discord
mutineer · insurrectionist · subversive · anarchist · guerrilla · renegade · defector · troublemaker · rabble-rouser · provocateur
bandit
Armed roadside thief
- highwaymanMounted thief targeting travelers
- desperadoBold, reckless outlaw
- brigandArmed robber, often rural
smuggler · bootlegger · rustler · moonshiner · pirate · marauder · raider · pillager · plunderer · freebooter
- roguesrogue, rogues, scoundrel, scoundrels, rascal
- rule breakersrulebreaker, transgressor, violator, offender, lawbreaker
- scoundrelsscoundrel, rogue, knave, cad, villain
- troublemakerstroublemaker, rascals, delinquents, imps, brats
- criminalsmurderer, thief, burglar, criminal, killer
- delinquentsjuvenile delinquent, juvenile offender, young offender, youth offender, delinquent
miscreantlawman
Enforcement officer
gangbuster · police officer · guardian · sheriff · peacekeeper