hoodlum
Young criminal type
A hoodlum is a rough, lawless person—a petty criminal or street thug.
The word suggests someone who engages in vandalism, violence, or intimidation rather than sophisticated crime: A gang of hoodlums smashed the storefront windows.
Often shortened to hood in casual speech.
Armed roadside thief
- desperadoBold, reckless outlaw
- brigandArmed robber, often rural
- highwaymanMounted thief targeting travelers
- fugitiveOne fleeing authorities
renegade · criminal · lawbreaker · crook · felon · convict · offender · malefactor
Organized crime member
- mafiosoOrganized crime syndicate member
- capoString-shortening clamp device
- godfatherMale baptismal guardian
- underbossCriminal organization's deputy
consigliere · hitman · enforcer · don · wiseguy · kingpin · lieutenant · associate
Habitual intimidator
- hooliganViolent young troublemaker
- rowdyNoisily disorderly
- loutCrude, ill-mannered person
- yobBritish term for hooligan
chav · roughhouse · scrapper · street fighter · aggressor · rogue · scoundrel · villain
Young person or animal
- troublemakerOne who creates discord
- punkRaw, fast rock genre
- miscreantEvildoer or villain
- waywardStubbornly self-willed
rebel · vandal · tearaway · young offender · ne'er-do-well · rapscallion · hellion · scamp
bandit
Armed roadside thief
- desperadoBold, reckless outlaw
- brigandArmed robber, often rural
- highwaymanMounted thief targeting travelers
fugitive · renegade · criminal · lawbreaker · crook · felon · convict · offender · malefactor · wrongdoer
mobster
Organized crime member
- mafiosoOrganized crime syndicate member
- capoString-shortening clamp device
- godfatherMale baptismal guardian
underboss · consigliere · hitman · enforcer · don · wiseguy · kingpin · lieutenant · associate · soldier
bully
Habitual intimidator
yob · chav · roughhouse · scrapper · street fighter · aggressor · rogue · scoundrel · villain · blackguard
juvenile
Young person or animal
- troublemakerOne who creates discord
- punkRaw, fast rock genre
- miscreantEvildoer or villain
wayward · rebel · vandal · tearaway · young offender · ne'er-do-well · rapscallion · hellion · scamp · scofflaw
bruiser
Large, intimidating fighter
enforcer · tough · strongarm · roughneck · brawler · bouncer · bodyguard · hired muscle · knuckle-dragger · leg-breaker
- Outlawsoutlaw, bandit, desperado, highwayman, robber
- troublemakerstroublemaker, rascals, delinquents, imps, brats
- criminalsmurderer, thief, burglar, criminal, killer
- delinquentsjuvenile delinquent, juvenile offender, young offender, youth offender, delinquent
- thievesthief, robber, burglar, pickpocket, shoplifter
- UnderworldHades, Tartarus, netherworld, Sheol, Styx
hoodlumhero
One admired for courage
saint · do-gooder · pillar of the community · straight arrow · goody-goody
hoodlumgentleman
Courteous, honorable man
lady · pillar of society · dignitary · aristocrat · pillar of the community
hoodlumpolice officer
Law enforcement agent
peacekeeper · officer of the law · law enforcement · good citizen · cop