roguish

Meanings

1. 1
   adj

   mischievous in a playful, attractive, or teasing way

   A roguish smile appeared as he revealed the harmless trick.

2. 2
   adj

   dishonest, unprincipled, or characteristic of a rogue

   The roguish dealer disappeared before the buyers discovered the fraud.

Formed from rogue + -ish. The older sense meant characteristic of a dishonest rogue; the now-common playful sense softened that judgment to suggest appealing mischief or boldness.

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