thug
Americannoun
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a violent, lawless, or vicious person, especially one who commits a crime such as assault, robbery, or murder.
It wasn't uncommon for hired thugs to intimidate shop owners until they paid up.
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(sometimes initial capital letter) one of a former group of professional robbers and murderers in India who strangled their victims.
noun
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a tough and violent man, esp a criminal
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(sometimes capital) (formerly) a member of an organization of robbers and assassins in India who typically strangled their victims
Usage
The word thug has had racial and cultural overtones since its adoption into the English language. It entered English during the British colonial period to describe a particular gang of criminals in India, but from the beginning, the otherness of the Indian robbers was intrinsic to the narrative about British colonial victims. In American English, the word is disproportionately applied to nonwhite perpetrators of violence or crime. White teens disturbing the peace at a party with loud music are more likely to be called troublemakers or hooligans. Their Black peers are more likely to be labeled thugs for the same offense. And following this common racialized usage, thug is used by some and interpreted by many as a code word for Black. In extreme cases, thug is chosen as a dog whistle to imply that Black people are generally prone to violence or criminality. However, there is also a reclaimed sense of thug within the Black community, and particularly in the hip-hop community, one that acknowledges the violence implicit in the label while also celebrating toughness and street smarts. Because thug has many implied connotations that may change depending on who is using the word and who is being described by it, it’s important to critically consider the context and tone around each particular instance of its use to truly understand what is being communicated.
Other Word Forms
- thuggery noun
- thuggish adjective
Etymology
Origin of thug
First recorded in 1800–10; from Hindi, Marathi ṭhag “swindler, cheat, rogue,” perhaps from Sanskrit sthaga- “a cheat,” from sthagati “he conceals”
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
"Never in your life label me a thug again. Never label me a wannabe gangster," he said.
From BBC
“We’re going to stand up to bullies and thugs in the White House.”
From Los Angeles Times
Leeds councillor Ali said on social media he was wearing Islamic clothing on his way through Earl's Court Station in West Lodon, on Wednesday, when a "racist thug" threatened to "smash my head in".
From BBC
"It was a violent riot driven by thugs intent on violence, and it wasn't just an attack on Gardai, it was an attack on community safety, and we won't tolerate that."
From BBC
"They began organising traffic and clearing the markets, removing the street vendors who were blocking the roads. We felt protected from thugs and thieves."
From Barron's
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
