roguish
/ˈrəʊɡɪʃ
/adjective
1Characteristic of a dishonest or unprincipled person: he led a roguish and uncertain existence...
- There is an awkward hero, there are a whole band of roguish characters, and there is the requisite bad guy.
- The company is a decidedly mixed bunch, and inevitably a few ‘dirty stories’ are told by the more roguish members of the group.
- He's a creation of note, that's for sure: smug, weasely, roguish.
Synonyms
unprincipled, dishonest, deceitful, unscrupulous, untrustworthy, reprobate, shameless, wicked, villainous;
incorrigible, unregenerate
informal shady, scoundrelly, rascally
archaic knavish
2Playfully mischievous: he gave her a roguish smile...
- Certainly there's a picaresque or roguish quality to many of the characters and elaborately exaggerated situations presented here, but that only tells part of the tale.
- With his trousers hoisted slightly too high above his waist, long grey hair grazing his collar and a roguish glint in his eye, he charmed us all instantly with a combination of naivety and directness.
- His face cracks into a lop-sided, roguish grin.
Synonyms
mischievous, playful, teasing, cheeky, naughty, wicked, impish, puckish, devilish, arch, waggish, rakish, raffish
rare ludic
Derivatives
roguishly
/ adverb ...- ‘I'm so relieved to be back here… I was worried for a bit,’ Asriya admitted, leaning against the balcony and turning to face the Prince, who smiled roguishly.
- Though she addressed the Englishman, her eyes were trained on Theroux, who winked roguishly at her.
- Pouting in good humor, Griffith reasoned roguishly, ‘Well, you can't blame me for trying, now can you?’
roguishness
- I meant to convey not just his charismatic drawl but also his character - unsentimental, tough to the point of roguishness with a concealed heart of gold.
- He doesn't fall back on his roguishness; nor does he strain for charm, relying instead on the pulse of the words.
- He laughs, the old roguishness oozing back into his expression.