ruffians
Violent lawless people
Ruffians are violent, lawless people—thugs or hooligans who cause trouble through force or intimidation.
The word carries an old-fashioned flavor, often appearing in adventure stories or period pieces: The travelers were set upon by ruffians.
In modern use, it sometimes has a playful edge when describing rough but harmless mischief: Those little ruffians tracked mud through the house.
Violent criminal
- hooliganViolent young troublemaker
- roughneckOil platform laborer
- loutCrude, ill-mannered person
- boorRude, insensitive person
savage · beast · goon · tough · bruiser · brawler · rowdy · yob
Criminal organization member
- mobsterOrganized crime member
- banditArmed roadside thief
- outlawFugitive from justice
- felonSerious crime perpetrator
mugger · robber · highwayman · brigand · marauder · desperado · cutthroat · pirate
One who threatens others
- tormentorOne who causes anguish
- oppressorOne who dominates cruelly
- persecutorOne who harasses relentlessly
- aggressorOne who initiates conflict
tyrant · menace · harasser · antagonist · brutalizer · strong-arm · extortionist · coercer
Armed robber, often rural
- footpadAnimal's plantar surface
- cutpurseHistorical term for thief
- freebooterMaritime plunderer seeking booty
- reaverOne who seizes violently
marauder · plunderer · pillager · corsair · buccaneer · highwayman · robber baron · outlaw
Violent young troublemaker
- delinquentFailing in duty
- troublemakerOne who creates discord
- saboteurOne who deliberately undermines
- destroyerOne that ruins completely
defacer · graffitist · wrecker · desecrator · desecrater · punk · tearaway · hellion
thug
Violent criminal
boor · savage · beast · goon · tough · bruiser · brawler · rowdy · yob · larrikin
gangster
Criminal organization member
felon · mugger · robber · highwayman · brigand · marauder · desperado · cutthroat · pirate · raider
intimidator
One who threatens others
- tormentorOne who causes anguish
- oppressorOne who dominates cruelly
- persecutorOne who harasses relentlessly
aggressor · tyrant · menace · harasser · antagonist · brutalizer · strong-arm · extortionist · coercer · terrorizer
brigand
Armed robber, often rural
- footpadAnimal's plantar surface
- cutpurseHistorical term for thief
- freebooterMaritime plunderer seeking booty
reaver · marauder · plunderer · pillager · corsair · buccaneer · highwayman · robber baron · outlaw · bandit
hooligan
Violent young troublemaker
- delinquentFailing in duty
- troublemakerOne who creates discord
- saboteurOne who deliberately undermines
destroyer · defacer · graffitist · wrecker · desecrator · desecrater · punk · tearaway · hellion · mischief-maker
- troublemakerstroublemaker, rascals, delinquents, imps, brats
- thugsthugs, goons, heavies, toughs, brutes
- raidersraiders, marauders, pillagers, plunderers, looters
- fightersboxer, boxers, wrestler, Muhammad Ali, fighter
ruffiansgentlemen
Men of refinement
ladies · gentlefolk · aristocrats · nobles · polite society
ruffianssaints
Canonized religious figures
angels · peacemakers · protectors · guardians · peacekeepers