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roguish

/ˈroʊgɪʃ/
IPA guide

To be roguish is to be up to no good, which could mean being untrustworthy like a criminal or playful and mischievous. If someone gives you a roguish smile, he’s totally flirting with you.

You can't trust someone who acts roguish in the bad way, like the roguish crook who picks your pocket while telling you how lovely you look. On the other hand, you might like someone who acts roguish in the second sense, which means playfully mischievous. Being roguish in this way might mean playing pranks, telling racy jokes, and being a little wild. Roguish behavior like this can still be annoying, like if your roguish roommate at camp short-sheets your bed.

Definitions of roguish
  1. adjective
    lacking principles or scruples
    “the captain was set adrift by his roguish crew”
    dishonest, dishonorable
    deceptive or fraudulent; disposed to cheat or defraud or deceive
  2. adjective
    playful in an appealingly bold way
    “a roguish grin”
    synonyms: devilish, rascally
    playful
    full of fun and high spirits
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