reprobates
People without principles
Reprobates are people given to immoral or unprincipled behavior—scoundrels, degenerates, ne'er-do-wells.
The word carries religious overtones of being rejected by God or beyond redemption: a den of reprobates and sinners.
In casual use, it's often affectionate rather than truly damning: I'm meeting the old reprobates for poker tonight.
Dishonest, unprincipled people
- roguesDishonest or deviant individuals
- villainsEvil characters in narratives
- miscreantsWrongdoers or lawbreakers
- knavesDeceitful, unscrupulous men
blackguards · ne'er-do-wells · rascals · malefactors · felons · criminals · delinquents · lawbreakers
Worsens over time
- sinnersMoral law violators
- transgressorsThose who break rules
- corruptDishonest, open to bribes
- depravedMorally corrupt, perverse
dissolute · debauched · immoral · wicked · evil-doers · profligate · licentious · lecherous
Mischievous troublemakers
- scampsPlayful troublemakers
- rapscallionsMischievous troublemakers
- roguesDishonest or deviant individuals
- mischief-makersThose causing playful trouble
troublemakers · hell-raisers · rabble-rousers · bad apples · good-for-nothings · scalawags · imps · devils
Moral law violators
- blasphemersThose reviling the divine
- hereticsRejectors of official doctrine
- apostatesThose who abandon belief
- infidelsThose rejecting the faith
heathens · pagans · godless · impious · unholy · irreligious · idolaters · backsliders
Socially rejected individuals
- exilesBanished persons
- outcastsRejected, excluded people
- black sheepDisreputable family member
- rejectsRefuses or discards
undesirables · persona non grata · ostracized · shunned · banished · castoffs · blackballed · disgraced
scoundrels
Dishonest, unprincipled people
- roguesDishonest or deviant individuals
- villainsEvil characters in narratives
- miscreantsWrongdoers or lawbreakers
knaves · blackguards · ne'er-do-wells · rascals · malefactors · felons · criminals · delinquents · lawbreakers · outlaws
degenerates
Worsens over time
- sinnersMoral law violators
- transgressorsThose who break rules
- corruptDishonest, open to bribes
depraved · dissolute · debauched · immoral · wicked · evil-doers · profligate · licentious · lecherous · lascivious
rascals
Mischievous troublemakers
- scampsPlayful troublemakers
- rapscallionsMischievous troublemakers
- roguesDishonest or deviant individuals
mischief-makers · troublemakers · hell-raisers · rabble-rousers · bad apples · good-for-nothings · scalawags · imps · devils · tearaways
sinners
Moral law violators
- blasphemersThose reviling the divine
- hereticsRejectors of official doctrine
- apostatesThose who abandon belief
infidels · heathens · pagans · godless · impious · unholy · irreligious · idolaters · backsliders · fallen
pariahs
Socially rejected individuals
- exilesBanished persons
- outcastsRejected, excluded people
- black sheepDisreputable family member
rejects · undesirables · persona non grata · ostracized · shunned · banished · castoffs · blackballed · disgraced · disowned
reprobatessaints
Canonized religious figures
good people · do-gooders · straight arrows · goody-goodies · righteous