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Thuggery: meaning, definitions and examples

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thuggery

 

[ ˈθʌgəri ]

Noun
Context #1 | Noun

criminal behavior

Thuggery refers to violent or aggressive behavior by individuals or groups, often associated with organized crime or gang activity. It can involve intimidation, extortion, and physical acts of violence against others, particularly in the context of enforcing control or maintaining power. The term is often used to describe actions that are brutal or ruthless in nature. This kind of behavior is generally viewed as unlawful and socially unacceptable.

Synonyms

brutality, coercion, intimidation, violence.

Examples of usage

  • The city has seen an increase in thuggery in recent years.
  • Authorities are cracking down on thuggery in local neighborhoods.
  • Thuggery can lead to severe consequences for both victims and perpetrators.

Translations

Translations of the word "thuggery" in other languages:

🇵🇹 vandalismo

🇮🇳 गुंडागर्दी

🇩🇪 Randalismus

🇮🇩 perilaku preman

🇺🇦 бандитизм

🇵🇱 bandytyzm

🇯🇵 ギャング行為

🇫🇷 violence

🇪🇸 criminalidad

🇹🇷 saldırganlık

🇰🇷 폭력

🇸🇦 بلطجة

🇨🇿 násilí

🇸🇰 násilie

🇨🇳 暴力

🇸🇮 nasilje

🇮🇸 glæpaverk

🇰🇿 бандитизм

🇬🇪 ბანდიტიზმი

🇦🇿 qanunsuzluq

🇲🇽 criminalidad

Etymology

The word 'thuggery' originates from the term 'thug', which was derived from the Hindi word 'ठग' (ṭhag) that means 'swindler' or 'cheat'. Historically, the term referred to a group of organized criminals in India known as the Thuggee, who were notorious for their murderous activities in the 19th century. These criminals would often travel in bands, targeting travelers for robbery and assassination. The British colonial government worked to suppress the Thuggee cult, associating the term with ruthless criminal activity. Over time, 'thuggery' came to be used in English to describe general violent and nefarious behavior, detaching its original cultural context but maintaining its association with brutality and intimidation.

Word Frequency Rank

Ranking #39,354, this word is encountered relatively rarely in everyday English. It might appear in literary works or specialized texts but isn't essential for general communication.