riffraff
noun
riff·raff ˈrif-ˌraf 
1
a
: disreputable persons
b
: rabble
c
: one of the riffraff
2
: refuse, rubbish
riffraff adjective
Synonyms
- chaff
- deadwood
- debris
- dreck
- drek
- dross
- dust
- effluvium
- effluvia
- garbage
- junk
- litter
- offal
- offscouring
- raffle
- refuse
- rubbish
- scrap
- spilth
- trash
- truck
- waste
See all Synonyms & Antonyms 
Example Sentences
Try not to associate with that riffraff. the sight of piles and piles of riffraff at the town dump was a sobering reminder that we are indeed a society of consumers
Recent Examples on the Web There is always another prestige booking to jet off to or a class to teach at Juilliard, and a faithful assistant, Francesca (Portrait of a Lady on Fire's Noémie Merlant), to smooth out the details and keep the riffraff away. 
Leah Greenblatt, EW.com, 5 Sep. 2022 By being difficult, the script kept the riffraff out. The New Yorker, 22 Nov. 2021 Yes, the usual riffraff tried gatecrashing and engaged in drunken brawls. Tribune News Service, cleveland, 10 July 2021 Imagine the bargain-hunting riffraff such an establishment might attract. Rex Huppke, chicagotribune.com, 10 Mar. 2021 The common riffraff, the ones All too ready to mix it up. Douglas O. Linder, Scientific American, 20 Oct. 2020 Then came the rare native Hawaiians, then the various riffraff of white newcomers from the continent, then the Chinese with their skill in amassing money. John Dos Passos, National Review, 28 Sep. 2020 With the label maker, the riffraff of my kitchen—homemade dukkah! Preserved radish! Sarah Jampel, Bon Appétit, 23 Apr. 2020 Tour buses are no longer allowed to cruise the street, and the stores have other ways to keep out the riffraff. Laura Randall, Washington Post, 13 June 2019 See More
Leah Greenblatt, EW.com, 5 Sep. 2022 By being difficult, the script kept the riffraff out. The New Yorker, 22 Nov. 2021 Yes, the usual riffraff tried gatecrashing and engaged in drunken brawls. Tribune News Service, cleveland, 10 July 2021 Imagine the bargain-hunting riffraff such an establishment might attract. Rex Huppke, chicagotribune.com, 10 Mar. 2021 The common riffraff, the ones All too ready to mix it up. Douglas O. Linder, Scientific American, 20 Oct. 2020 Then came the rare native Hawaiians, then the various riffraff of white newcomers from the continent, then the Chinese with their skill in amassing money. John Dos Passos, National Review, 28 Sep. 2020 With the label maker, the riffraff of my kitchen—homemade dukkah! Preserved radish! Sarah Jampel, Bon Appétit, 23 Apr. 2020 Tour buses are no longer allowed to cruise the street, and the stores have other ways to keep out the riffraff. Laura Randall, Washington Post, 13 June 2019 See More Word History
Etymology
Middle English ryffe raffe, from rif and raf every single one, from Anglo-French rif e raf altogether
First Known Use
15th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1a
Kids Definition
riffraff
noun
riff·raff ˈrif-ˌraf
: a group of people who are not considered respectable or honest
riffraff
noun
1
as in debris
discarded or useless material the sight of piles and piles of riffraff at the town dump was a sobering reminder that we are indeed a society of consumers Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
- debris
- garbage
- trash
- dust
- junk
- rubbish
- sewage
- litter
- truck
- effluvia
- chaff
- rubble
- effluvium
- deadwood
- dross
- dreck
- offal
- refuse
- drek
- waste
- offscouring
- detritus
- raffle
- crud
- wreckage
- lumber
- ruins
- swill
- flotsam
- scrap
- wash
- spilth
- dump
- trumpery
- jetsam
- slop
- remains
- cull
- scrap heap
- discard
- two bits
- throwaway
- reject
- straw
- nothing
- castoff
- odds and ends
- hand-me-down
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
- plum
- catch
- prize
- treasure
- trove
- booty
- pearl
- jewel
- treasure trove
- gem
- find
- goodie
- goody
- valuable
- salvage
2
as in rabble
people looked down upon as ignorant and of the lowest class local ordinances that are intended to keep the riffraff out of the town Synonyms & Similar Words
- rabble
- masses
- populace
- people
- public
- unwashed
- scum
- proletariat
- trash
- commoners
- mob
- dregs
- tagrag and bobtail
- rabblement
- rout
- ragtag and bobtail
- tag, rag, and bobtail
- plebeians
- commons
- multitude
- millions
- bourgeoisie
- herd
- hoi polloi
- working class
- middle class
- rank and file
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
- aristocracy
- elite
- gentry
- society
- quality
- upper crust
- upper class
- establishment
- elect
- A-list
- nobility
- gentlefolk
- peerage
- gentlefolks