Thug: meaning, definitions and examples

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thug

[ θʌɡ ]

^{Context #1}

criminal behavior

A thug is a violent person, especially a criminal.

Synonyms

criminal, gangster, ruffian

Examples of usage

The thug threatened the shopkeeper with a knife.
The gang of thugs robbed the bank.

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derogatory term

Thug is sometimes used as a derogatory term for a person who is perceived as violent or uncivilized, often with racial connotations.

Synonyms

brute, bully, hooligan

Examples of usage

The media portrayed the protestors as thugs.
The term thug carries negative stereotypes.

Translations

Translations of the word "thug" in other languages:

🇵🇹 bandido

🇮🇳 गुंडा

🇩🇪 Schläger

🇮🇩 preman

🇺🇦 бандит

🇵🇱 bandyta

🇯🇵 暴漢（ぼうかん）

🇫🇷 voyou

🇪🇸 matón

🇹🇷 haydut

🇰🇷 깡패

🇸🇦 بلطجي

🇨🇿 násilník

🇸🇰 násilník

🇨🇳 暴徒 (bàotú)

🇸🇮 razbojnik

🇮🇸 ofbeldismaður

🇰🇿 бандит

🇬🇪 ბანდა

🇦🇿 quldur

🇲🇽 matón

Word origin

The word 'thug' originated in India, where it referred to a member of a group of professional robbers and murderers known as the Thuggee cult. The cult was notorious for strangling travelers and then robbing them. The word was later adopted into English to refer to violent criminals in general.