noun
miscreant
MIHS-kree-uhnt
Miscreant (noun) means someone who behaves badly or breaks the law, often used in a light or old-fashioned way. Example: “The park ranger chased off a pair of miscreants who'd been carving names into the trees.”
noun
1
Someone who behaves badly or breaks the law, often used in a light or old-fashioned way.
"The park ranger chased off a pair of miscreants who'd been carving names into the trees."
How to use miscreant
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishA troublemaker or petty criminal.
When to use it
Has an old-fashioned or slightly playful tone in modern English — rarely used for serious crime.
Common pairings
a bunch of miscreants
local miscreants
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Word forms
- Plural
- miscreants
- Comparative
- more miscreant
- Superlative
- most miscreant
Fill the gap
Can you complete this real example?
The park ranger chased off a pair of _____ who'd been carving names into the trees.
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.
Synonyms
View more →Related words
Rhymes for miscreant
See all rhymes for 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.
