A ruffian is a man who behaves violently and is involved in crime.
[old-fashioned]
...gangs of ruffians who lurk about intent on troublemaking.
Synonyms: thug, heavy [slang], tough, rough [informal] More Synonyms of ruffian
ruffian in British English
(ˈrʌfɪən)
noun
a violent or lawless person; hoodlum or villain
Derived forms
ruffianism (ˈruffianism)
noun
ruffianly (ˈruffianly)
adjective
Word origin
C16: from Old French rufien, from Italian ruffiano, perhaps related to Langobardic hruf scurf, scabbiness
ruffian in American English
(ˈrʌfiən; ˈrʌfjən)
noun
1.
a brutal, violent, lawless person; tough or hoodlum
adjective
2.
brutal, violent, and lawless
: also ˈruffianly
Derived forms
ruffianism (ˈruffianˌism)
noun
Word origin
Fr rufian < It ruffiano, a pander < dial. roffia, filth < Gmc *hruf-, scurf (akin to OHG ruf, OE hreof) < IE base *kreup- > Lith kraupus, rough: E sense infl. by rough
Examples of 'ruffian' in a sentence
ruffian
His pose, the tilt of his head, a dozen small changes I could see but not define, turned him into the ruffian he had first appeared to be.
Elizabeth Peters LORD OF THE SILENT (2004)
(noun)
Definition
a violent lawless person
gangs of ruffians who lurk about
Synonyms
thug
the cowardly thugs who mug old people
heavy (slang)
tough
Three burly toughs elbowed their way to the front.
rough (informal)
The roughs of the town are out.
bully
I fell victim to the office bully.
casual
villain
As a copper, I've spent my life putting villains like him away.
ned (Scottish, slang)
rogue
He wasn't a rogue at all.
hooligan
riots involving football hooligans
brute
rowdy
The owner kept a baseball bat to deal with rowdies.
rascal
What's that old rascal been telling you?
scoundrel (old-fashioned)
He is a lying scoundrel.
hoodlum (informal)
a small-time hoodlum attempting to go straight
bully boy
bruiser (informal)
The team has some bruisers in its ranks.
wretch
I think he's a mean-minded, vindictive old wretch.
yardie
lager lout
roughneck (slang)
a rangy lantern-jawed roughneck
miscreant
Local people demanded that the magistrate apprehend the miscreants.
boot boy
tsotsi (South Africa)
cougan (Australian, slang)
scozza (Australian, slang)
bogan (Australian, slang)
wrong 'un (slang)
Additional synonyms
in the sense of bruiser
Definition
a strong tough person, esp. a boxer or a bully
The team has some bruisers in its ranks.
Synonyms
tough,
heavy (slang),
rough (informal),
bully,
thug,
gorilla (informal),
hard man,
rowdy,
tough guy,
hoodlum (informal),
bully boy,
ruffian,
roughneck (slang)
in the sense of bully
Definition
a person who hurts, persecutes, or intimidates weaker people
I fell victim to the office bully.
Synonyms
persecutor,
tough,
oppressor,
tormentor,
bully boy,
browbeater,
coercer,
ruffian,
intimidator
in the sense of hoodlum
Definition
a violent criminal, esp. one who is a member of a gang
a small-time hoodlum attempting to go straight
Synonyms
thug,
hooligan,
ruffian,
vandal,
delinquent,
rowdy,
lout,
tearaway (British),
hoon (Australian, New Zealand),
bruiser (informal),
boot boy,
yob or yobbo (British, informal),
cougan (Australian, slang),
scozza (Australian, slang),
bogan (Australian, slang)
Nearby words of
ruffian
rue
rueful
ruff
ruffian
ruffle
rug
rugby
Synonyms of 'ruffian'
ruffian
Explore 'ruffian' in the dictionary
Additional synonyms
in the sense of hooligan
Definition
a young person who behaves in a noisy and violent way in public
riots involving football hooligans
Synonyms
delinquent,
tough,
vandal,
casual,
ned (Scottish, slang),
rowdy,
hoon (Australian, New Zealand),
hoodlum (US),
ruffian,
lager lout,
boot boy,
yob or yobbo (British, slang),
cougan (Australian, slang),
scozza (Australian, slang),
bogan (Australian, slang),
hoodie (informal)
in the sense of miscreant
Definition
a wrongdoer or villain
Local people demanded that the magistrate apprehend the miscreants.
Synonyms
wrongdoer,
criminal,
villain,
rogue,
sinner,
rascal,
scoundrel (old-fashioned),
scally (NorthwestEngland, dialect),
vagabond,
knave (archaic),
reprobate,
malefactor,
blackguard,
evildoer,
caitiff (archaic),
skelm (South Africa),
wrong 'un (slang)
in the sense of rascal
Definition
a scoundrel or rogue
What's that old rascal been telling you?
Synonyms
rogue (old-fashioned),
devil,
villain,
scoundrel (old-fashioned),
disgrace,
rake (old-fashioned),
pickle (British, informal),
imp,
scally (NorthwestEngland, dialect),
wretch,
knave (archaic),
ne'er-do-well,
reprobate,
scallywag (informal),
good-for-nothing,
miscreant,
scamp,
wastrel (archaic),
bad egg (old-fashioned, informal),
blackguard,
varmint (informal),
rapscallion (archaic),
caitiff (archaic),
wrong 'un (slang),
nointer (Australian, slang)
in the sense of rogue
Definition
a dishonest or unprincipled person
He wasn't a rogue at all.
Synonyms
scoundrel (old-fashioned),
crook (informal),
villain,
fraudster,
sharper,
fraud (informal),
cheat,
devil,
deceiver,
charlatan,
conman or woman (informal),
con artist (informal),
swindler,
knave (archaic),
ne'er-do-well,
reprobate,
scumbag (slang),
blackguard,
mountebank,
grifter (slang, US, Canadian),
skelm (South Africa),
rorter (Australian, slang),
wrong 'un (slang)
in the sense of rough
Definition
a violent person
The roughs of the town are out.
Synonyms
thug,
tough,
casual,
rowdy,
hoon (Australian, New Zealand),
bully boy,
bruiser (informal),
ruffian,
lager lout,
roughneck (slang),
ned (Scottish, slang),
cougan (Australian, slang),
scozza (Australian, slang),
bogan (Australian, slang)
in the sense of roughneck
Definition
a violent person
a rangy lantern-jawed roughneck
Synonyms
thug,
heavy (slang),
tough,
rough (informal),
rowdy,
bully boy,
bruiser (informal),
ruffian
in the sense of rowdy
Definition
a person like this
The owner kept a baseball bat to deal with rowdies.
Synonyms
hooligan,
tough,
rough (informal),
casual,
ned (Scottish, slang),
brawler,
yahoo,
lout,
troublemaker,
tearaway (British),
ruffian,
lager lout,
boot boy,
yob or yobbo (British, slang),
cougan (Australian, slang),
scozza (Australian, slang),
bogan (Australian, slang)
in the sense of scoundrel
Definition
a person who cheats and deceives
He is a lying scoundrel.
Synonyms
rogue,
cad (old-fashioned, informal),
bastard (informal, offensive),
villain,
mother,
heel (slang),
cheat,
shit (taboo, slang),
bugger (taboo, slang),
swine,
rascal,
son-of-a-bitch (offensive, slang, US, Canadian),
asshole (US, Canadian, taboo, slang),
scally (NorthwestEngland, dialect),
turd (taboo, slang),
wretch,
incorrigible,
motherfucker (taboo, slang, US),
knave (archaic),
rotter (slang, British),
ne'er-do-well,
reprobate,
scumbag (slang),
good-for-nothing,
miscreant,
scamp,
bad egg (old-fashioned, informal),
blackguard,
cocksucker (taboo, slang),
scapegrace,
asswipe (US, Canadian, taboo, slang),
caitiff (archaic),
dastard (archaic),
skelm (South Africa),
wrong 'un (slang)
in the sense of tough
Definition
a rough, vicious, or violent person
Three burly toughs elbowed their way to the front.
Synonyms
ruffian,
heavy (slang),
rough (informal),
bully,
thug,
hooligan,
brute,
rowdy,
bravo,
bully boy,
bruiser (informal),
roughneck (slang),
boot boy,
tsotsi (South Africa)
in the sense of villain
Definition
a wicked or evil person
As a copper, I've spent my life putting villains like him away.
Synonyms
evildoer,
criminal,
rogue,
profligate,
scoundrel (old-fashioned),
wretch,
libertine,
knave (archaic),
reprobate,
miscreant,
malefactor,
blackguard,
rapscallion,
caitiff (archaic),
wrong 'un (slang)
Additional synonyms
in the sense of wretch
Definition
a despicable person
I think he's a mean-minded, vindictive old wretch.