different between scoundrel vs scapegrace

English

Etymology

Possibly related to northern English or Scottish scunner: "to shrink back in fear or loathing" (Encyclopædia Britannica 1911).

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /?ska??nd??l/

Noun

scoundrel (plural scoundrels)

1. A mean, worthless fellow; a rascal; a villain; a person without honour or virtue.

Synonyms

• see also Thesaurus:villain

Derived terms

• scoundrelish, scoundrelly, scoundrelous, scoundrelously

Translations

See also

• Scoundrel in the Encyclopædia Britannica (11th edition, 1911)

English

Etymology

From scape +? grace

Pronunciation

• (UK) IPA^(key): /?ske?p??e?s/

Noun

scapegrace (plural scapegraces)

2. A wild and reckless person (especially a boy); a scoundrel.
   • 1859, George Meredith, The Ordeal of Richard Feverel, Chapter 4:

     He is now laden with that superabundant energy which makes a fool of a man, and a scapegrace of a boy, and he wants to work it off.

Quotations

• For quotations using this term, see Citations:scapegrace.

Synonyms

• black sheep, rascal, rogue; see also Thesaurus:villain