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Definition of mugging

mugging

/ˈmʌɡ.ɪŋ/
mug · ging
Plural:muggings
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mugging Lexical Profile

mugging Game Scores & Validity

• noun

1

An act of attacking and robbing someone in a public place, such as on the street.

Example

"The city installed brighter streetlights in the park after residents reported an increase in late-night muggings."

2

The act of making exaggerated or comical facial expressions, especially when performing before an audience or camera.

Example

"The director asked the young actor to tone down his mugging during the dramatic scenes."

Synonyms
View all synonyms for mugging

• Rhymes for mugging

• Nearby Words

mugger
mugger crocodile
mugginess
mugging
muggle
muggy
mughal

Word Origin & Etymology

Derived in the mid-19th century as a verbal noun from the slang verb 'mug' (meaning to strike a person's face or to rob by strangling), itself from the 18th-century slang noun 'mug' meaning 'face,' likely referencing drinking mugs shaped like grotesque human faces.

Cite this Entry

Wordmom. (2026). Definition of Mugging. In Wordmom Dictionary. Retrieved Nov 5, 2026, from https://wordmom.com/dictionary/mugging
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