ruffian

noun
UK: /ˈrʌfiən/
US: /ˈrʌfiən/

  1. A violent person who is involved in crime.

    1. The ruffian threatened me in the street.
    2. A gang of ruffians attacked the store, smashing windows and stealing goods, before fleeing the scene.

  2. A cruel and brutal fellow; bully.

    1. He is a ruffian and a thief.
    2. The local tavern was often frequented by ruffians, known for starting fights and causing trouble.

Synonyms

thug bully hooligan gangster villain scoundrel
ruffian verb

  1. To behave as a violent and cruel person.

    1. The gang ruffianed the store.
    2. The group of youths ruffianed the smaller children, stealing their lunch money and pushing them around.
ruffian adjective

  1. Relating to or characteristic of a ruffian; brutal or violent.

    1. He has ruffian manners.
    2. The town was under the control of a ruffian gang, known for its ruthless tactics and disregard for the law.

Frequently Asked Questions

The word "ruffian" in English means: A violent person who is involved in crime., A cruel and brutal fellow; bully..

The phonetic transcription of "ruffian" is /ˈrʌfiən/ in British English and /ˈrʌfiən/ in American English. Click the 🔊 button to hear both pronunciations.

Synonyms for "ruffian": thug, bully, hooligan, gangster, villain, scoundrel.

Example usage of "ruffian": "The ruffian threatened me in the street.". More examples on the page.