low-life
Society's dregs personified
A low-life is a person of disreputable character—a petty criminal, a cheat, or someone who operates in society's margins.
The term carries contempt: That low-life stole my bike.
As an adjective, it describes seedy environments or behavior: a low-life bar, low-life scams.
Also spelled lowlife.
Dishonest, unscrupulous person
- villainWicked story antagonist
- sleazeballContemptible, unethical person
- deadbeatPerson avoiding owed payments
- bumIdle vagrant
dirtbag · creep · loser · degenerate · good-for-nothing · waste · scumbag · reprobate
One who steals
- crookBent implement or criminal
- felonSerious crime perpetrator
- burglarOne who breaks in
- robberOne who steals by force
pickpocket · mugger · shoplifter · vandal · delinquent · hoodlum · thug · petty criminal
Professional fraud perpetrator
- swindlerPerson who deceives for money
- fraudIntentional criminal trickery
- cheatAct dishonestly to win
- hustlerAggressive, unscrupulous earner
grifter · scammer · snake · shady · crooked · shifty · sleazy · untrustworthy
Organized crime member
- gangsterCriminal organization member
- mafiaCriminal organization using intimidation
- syndicateCombined group pursuing shared interest
- cartelPrice-fixing coalition
hitman · kingpin · racketeer · smuggler · fence · bootlegger · loan shark · enforcer
Deserving strong disrespect
- despicableMorally worthless, beneath regard
- vileExtremely unpleasant or bad
- loathsomeArousing intense disgust
- detestableWorthy of intense dislike
deplorable · abhorrent · repugnant · odious · wretched · pathetic · pitiful · shameful
scoundrel
Dishonest, unscrupulous person
- villainWicked story antagonist
- sleazeballContemptible, unethical person
- deadbeatPerson avoiding owed payments
bum · dirtbag · creep · loser · degenerate · good-for-nothing · waste · scumbag · reprobate · wretch
thief
One who steals
robber · pickpocket · mugger · shoplifter · vandal · delinquent · hoodlum · thug · petty criminal · troublemaker
con artist
Professional fraud perpetrator
hustler · grifter · scammer · snake · shady · crooked · shifty · sleazy · untrustworthy · two-faced
mobster
Organized crime member
- gangsterCriminal organization member
- mafiaCriminal organization using intimidation
- syndicateCombined group pursuing shared interest
cartel · hitman · kingpin · racketeer · smuggler · fence · bootlegger · loan shark · enforcer · drug dealer
contemptible
Deserving strong disrespect
- despicableMorally worthless, beneath regard
- vileExtremely unpleasant or bad
- loathsomeArousing intense disgust
detestable · deplorable · abhorrent · repugnant · odious · wretched · pathetic · pitiful · shameful · disgraceful
low-lifesaint
Canonized holy person
good person · pillar of the community · straight arrow · do-gooder · salt of the earth
low-lifearistocrat
Person of noble birth
noble · blue blood · upper-class · highborn · wellborn