miscreant
1 synonym for miscreant, grouped by meaning and by how common each one is.
Noun — Someone who behaves badly or breaks the law, often used in a light or old-fashioned way.
Synonyms
Rare, literary or technical
Precise, but they will stand out — check the sense before using one.
How to use miscreant
The word patterns that sound natural to a native speaker.
a bunch of miscreants
local miscreants
Has an old-fashioned or slightly playful tone in modern English — rarely used for serious crime.
Etymology
From Old French mescreant, "disbeliever," from mes- + creire ("to believe"); it originally meant someone with the wrong religious faith before shifting to mean a wrongdoer generally.
Full origin of miscreant →Frequently asked questions
What does “miscreant” mean?
The word “miscreant” means someone who behaves badly or breaks the law, often used in a light or old-fashioned way. In plain terms, a troublemaker or petty criminal.
How do you pronounce “miscreant”?
“Miscreant” is pronounced MIHS-kree-uhnt (/ˈmɪs.kɹi.ənt/ in IPA).
How do you use “miscreant” in a sentence?
Here is “miscreant” used in a sentence: “The park ranger chased off a pair of miscreants who'd been carving names into the trees.”
What part of speech is “miscreant”?
“Miscreant” is a noun.
Where does the word “miscreant” come from?
The word “miscreant” comes from Old French. From Old French mescreant, "disbeliever," from mes- + creire ("to believe"); it originally meant someone with the wrong religious faith before shifting to mean a wrongdoer generally.
