brigands
Armed roving thieves
Brigands are bandits or outlaws who rob travelers, typically in remote areas like mountains or forests.
The word carries a romantic, old-world flavor—you're more likely to encounter brigands in historical fiction or fantasy than in news reports: The mountain pass was notorious for brigands who preyed on merchant caravans.
Surprise strike from concealment
- plunderGoods seized violently
- pillageViolent theft of goods
- ransackPlunder while destroying
- lootStolen valuables
maraud · waylay · raid · foray · depredation · sack · spoils · booty
Dishonest, unscrupulous person
- knaveDishonest, unprincipled person
- rascalLovable troublemaker
- miscreantEvildoer or villain
- rapscallionMischievous person, usually endearing
blackguard · villain · ne'er-do-well · scalawag · ruffian · thug · cutthroat · hooligan
ambush
Surprise strike from concealment
loot · maraud · waylay · raid · foray · depredation · sack · spoils · booty · holdup
scoundrel
Dishonest, unscrupulous person
rapscallion · blackguard · villain · ne'er-do-well · scalawag · ruffian · thug · cutthroat · hooligan · roughneck
highwayman
Mounted thief targeting travelers
raider · footpad · cutpurse · desperado · renegade · fugitive · felon · thief · looter · pillager
- roguesrogue, rogues, scoundrel, scoundrels, rascal
- historical crimehighway robbery, pickpocketing, burglary, arson, piracy
- piracysoftware piracy, pirates, torrents, book piracy, buccaneers
- raidersraiders, marauders, pillagers, plunderers, looters
- invadersinvaders, raiders, marauders, pillagers, plunderers
- outcastsoutcast, pariah, pariahs, outcasts, outlaws
brigandslawmen
Official crime fighters
sheriffs · constables · police · guards · soldiers
brigandssaints
Canonized religious figures
heroes · benefactors · philanthropists · gentlemen · noblemen