scallywag
Playful little troublemaker
A scallywag is a mischievous person, especially a child who causes trouble in an endearing way: You little scallywag, you ate all the cookies.
The word is affectionate rather than harsh—it suggests roguish charm more than genuine wrongdoing.
In American history, scallywag (or scalawag) referred disparagingly to white Southerners who supported Reconstruction after the Civil War.
Mischievous young person
- impMinor mischief-making devil
- pranksterSomeone who plays tricks
- troublemakerOne who creates discord
- urchinNeglected street child
whippersnapper · tyke · monkey · brat · puck · gamin · mischief-maker · hellion
Dishonest, unprincipled person
- scoundrelDishonest, unscrupulous person
- rogueDishonest or uncontrolled agent
- villainWicked story antagonist
- cadDishonorable man
bounder · ne'er-do-well · blackguard · varlet · miscreant · reprobate · wastrel · good-for-nothing
Caribbean colonial-era pirate
- corsairPirate or pirate ship
- swashbucklerDaring, flamboyant swordsman
- privateerAuthorized civilian warship
- freebooterMaritime plunderer seeking booty
sea dog · marauder · plunderer · brigand · cutthroat · raider · sailor · seafarer
Exploitative political outsider
- turncoatOne who betrays allegiance
- collaboratorOne who works jointly
- opportunistOne exploiting circumstances
- traitorOne who betrays allegiance
renegade · defector · apostate · quisling · reconstruction · secessionist · southerner · unionist
scamp
Mischievous young person
- impMinor mischief-making devil
- pranksterSomeone who plays tricks
- troublemakerOne who creates discord
urchin · whippersnapper · tyke · monkey · brat · puck · gamin · mischief-maker · hellion · tearaway
knave
Dishonest, unprincipled person
- scoundrelDishonest, unscrupulous person
- rogueDishonest or uncontrolled agent
- villainWicked story antagonist
cad · bounder · ne'er-do-well · blackguard · varlet · miscreant · reprobate · wastrel · good-for-nothing · trickster
buccaneer
Caribbean colonial-era pirate
- corsairPirate or pirate ship
- swashbucklerDaring, flamboyant swordsman
- privateerAuthorized civilian warship
freebooter · sea dog · marauder · plunderer · brigand · cutthroat · raider · sailor · seafarer · shipmate
carpetbagger
Exploitative political outsider
- turncoatOne who betrays allegiance
- collaboratorOne who works jointly
- opportunistOne exploiting circumstances
traitor · renegade · defector · apostate · quisling · reconstruction · secessionist · southerner · unionist · radical
scallywagsaint
Canonized holy person
angel · paragon · straight arrow · gentleman · goody-goody
scallywaggoody two-shoes
Ostentatiously virtuous person
conformist · teacher's pet · square · boy scout · stickler
scallywagpillar of the community
Respected local leader
dignitary · notable · solid citizen · stalwart · pillar of society