as in corrupt
having or showing lowered moral character or standards
within a few short years their rakish son had squandered the family fortune on hard liquor and fast cars
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Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of rakish
Like the rakish characters in La Piscine, those in Last Summer are caught in a folie à plusieurs, where the idyllic, island setting seems to arouse their worst impulses.
—
Erik Morse, Vogue, 26 June 2025
Louvers in the rakish glass hatch instantly recall the classic split-window Sting Ray of 1963, the one-year-only styling created by GM designer Larry Shinoda, the son of Japanese immigrants.
—Lawrence Ulrich, Robb Report, 25 June 2025
However, larger dogs will struggle for headroom because of the BYD Sealion 7’s rakish roofline.
—Matthew MacConnell, Forbes.com, 9 Apr. 2025
The rakish womanizer has mellowed with age only insofar as he’s graduated from dating 20ish models to a 20ish poet, healer and model.
—David Rooney, The Hollywood Reporter, 3 Sep. 2019
See All Example Sentences for rakish
Erik Morse, Vogue, 26 June 2025
Louvers in the rakish glass hatch instantly recall the classic split-window Sting Ray of 1963, the one-year-only styling created by GM designer Larry Shinoda, the son of Japanese immigrants.
—Lawrence Ulrich, Robb Report, 25 June 2025
However, larger dogs will struggle for headroom because of the BYD Sealion 7’s rakish roofline.
—Matthew MacConnell, Forbes.com, 9 Apr. 2025
The rakish womanizer has mellowed with age only insofar as he’s graduated from dating 20ish models to a 20ish poet, healer and model.
—David Rooney, The Hollywood Reporter, 3 Sep. 2019
See All Example Sentences for rakish
Recent Examples of Synonyms for rakish
Adjective
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After decades when Ukraine was seen as one of the most corrupt countries in the world, cleaning up its government has been held up as the most important condition for Kyiv to join the European Union and integrate more broadly with the West.—
Olena Harmash,
USA Today,
23 July 2025
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Womack’s charges include corrupt organizations, endangering the welfare of care, unlawful use of a computer, identity theft, forgery and theft of unlawful taking.—
Mike Stunson,
Miami Herald,
22 July 2025
Adjective
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On top of software setbacks, the OP said the vehicle's battery had to be replaced, but with a degraded unit that reduced range by 30 miles overnight.—
Thomas Westerholm,
MSNBC Newsweek,
21 July 2025
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In the kitchen, opt for glass and stainless-steel containers, and throw away degraded plastic tools.—
Annie Lowrey,
The Atlantic,
7 July 2025
Adjective
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Not every mosquito carries West Nile virus, and not everyone who contracts the virus will get sick.—
Madeline Heim,
jsonline.com,
28 July 2025
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Cena took the opportunity to chug water to avoid getting sick.—
Dessi Gomez,
Deadline,
26 July 2025
Adjective
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The extravagant, dissolute life Prince Albert II of Monaco continues to bolster arguments of those who think that hereditary monarchies should not be allowed to exist in the 21st century.—
Martha Ross,
Mercury News,
18 June 2025
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Nick, a prequel to the original, offers us Carraway’s backstory as a soldier in World War I and a wanderer trying to find his way in a dissolute world.—
Danielle Teller,
People.com,
10 Apr. 2025
Adjective
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There are all sorts of bad husbands in The Hunting Wives: Jed (Dermot Mulroney) is a horny oil tycoon with his eyes set on the governor’s mansion, Clint (Jason Davis) is a snobby reverend, and Jonny (Branton Box) is a crooked sheriff.—
Fran Hoepfner,
Vulture,
1 Aug. 2025
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The black hole and its crooked jet are found in a blazar known as OJ 287, located about four billion light-years away.—
Keith Cooper,
Space.com,
1 Aug. 2025
Adjective
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Right on time, the lights went out, revealing the decadent stage, designed to look the untouched, undeveloped version of the island’s oceans and mountains.—
Julyssa Lopez,
Rolling Stone,
26 July 2025
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The decadent lemon and ricotta pancakes, served with lemon curd, blueberries, and maple syrup, dispel any notion of low-calorie-only food here.—
Devorah Lev-Tov,
Travel + Leisure,
26 July 2025
Cite this Entry
“Rakish.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/rakish. Accessed 6 Aug. 2025.
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