miscreant

1 of 2

adjective

mis·cre·ant ˈmis-krē-ənt

Synonyms of miscreant

archaic : unbelieving, heretical

: depraved, villainous

miscreant behavior

miscreant gangs

miscreant

2 of 2

noun

: infidel, heretic

: one who behaves criminally or viciously

supports tough penalties against corporate miscreants

Examples of miscreant in a Sentence

Noun He supports tough penalties against corporate miscreants. halt, vile miscreant, and face justice!

Recent Examples on the Web

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

Adjective

Near the bottom of our drinks, my most miscreant friend had a suggestion. — Hazlitt, 6 Dec. 2022 Voters need to hold the mayor and council accountable for their miscreant spending, not give them more of our limited funds. — U T Readers, San Diego Union-Tribune, 25 May 2025

Noun

If anything, Congress has not been tough enough with miscreants over the years. — Orlando Sentinel, The Orlando Sentinel, 24 Apr. 2026 Elswyth can shoot ivy vines from her hands, wrapping the vines around miscreants to incapacitate them. — Chris Hewitt, Boston Herald, 15 May 2026 See All Example Sentences for miscreant

Word History

Etymology

Adjective and Noun

Middle English miscreaunt, from Anglo-French mescreant, present participle of mescreire to disbelieve, from mes- + creire to believe, from Latin credere — more at creed

First Known Use

Adjective

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Noun

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler

The first known use of miscreant was in the 14th century

See more words from the same century

Browse Nearby Words

miscreancy

miscreant

miscreate

See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

Style

“Miscreant.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/miscreant. Accessed 7 Jul. 2026.

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Kids Definition

miscreant

noun

mis·cre·ant

ˈmis-krē-ənt

: villain sense 2, scoundrel

miscreant adjective

miscreant

adjective

noun

Synonyms of miscreant

Examples of miscreant in a Sentence

Word History

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

Kids Definition

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