UNSCRUPULOUS
ADJECTIVES
► CROOK dishonest, corrupt, unscrupulous → 1898 Aust. & NZ sl.
► DOGGISH unscrupulous (referring to a man who might take advantage of a girl) → 1970 US sl. (Bk.)
► JACKLEG dishonest or unscrupulous → US sl.
► SCHEMISH scheming, manoeuvring, covetous, unscrupulous and grasping in bargaining → 1904 Eng. dial. (Bk.)
► WAFF unscrupulous, untrustworthy → 1825 Sc.
NOUNS
► LOW ROAD a method, manner, etc., that is underhand, unscrupulous, or otherwise contemptible
NOUNS – PERSON
► BECKY SHARP an unscrupulous, worldly young woman → 1922 (Bk.)
► FAST DOLLAR BOY a person who is unscrupulous as to the source of their income → 1949 US sl.
► GIPSIE ► GIPSY ► GYPSY a person who acts in a disreputable, unscrupulous, or deceptive manner → 1616 obs.
► JACK-LEG an incompetent, unskilled, unscrupulous, or unprincipled worker or professional person, esp. a quack doctor, a crooked lawyer, or a hypocritical preacher; a bungling workman → 1853 US sl.
► MACHIAVEL one who acts on the principles of Machiavelli (a celebrated Florence statesman who advocated the pursuit of statecraft at the expense of morality); an intriguer; an unscrupulous schemer → 1570
► MACHIAVELLIAN an intriguer; an unscrupulous schemer → 1568
► MACHIAVELLIST an intriguer; an unscrupulous schemer → 1589
► NED KELLY a person of reckless courage or unscrupulous business dealings → 1886 Aust. colloq.
► NIPPER a person who is sharp and somewhat unscrupulous in his dealings → 1947 Sc.
► RIG an unscrupulous person → 1903 sl. (Bk.)
► SAD BIRD a worthless, unimportant, or unscrupulous person → 1914 Amer. dial. (Bk.)
► SCAPEGRACE a man or boy of reckless and disorderly habits; a careless, idle, harebrained fellow; a graceless, good-for-nothing fellow; a ne’er-do-well; a complete rogue or rascal; a habitually unscrupulous person; a scamp (rarely applied to a female) → 1809
► SCOWBANKER a person who engages in unfair business practices; a dishonest or unscrupulous trader → 1750 sl. obs.
► SHYSTER a dishonest or corrupt person; someone who uses unscrupulous methods → 1844
► SPIV a man, often flashily dressed, who makes a living by illicit or unscrupulous dealings → 1934 Brit. sl.
VERBS
► FAN THE HAMMER to act in a brilliant but unscrupulous manner → 1909 US sl.