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Definition of thuggish

thuggish

/ˈθʌɡ.ɪʃ/
thug · gish
Adverb:thuggishly
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thuggish Lexical Profile

thuggish Game Scores & Validity

• adjective

1

Characteristic of a thug; violent, brutish, intimidating, or lawless in behavior or appearance.

Example

"The organization was widely criticized for using thuggish tactics to silence its competitors."

Synonyms
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Antonyms
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• Rhymes for thuggish

• Nearby Words

thud
thug
thuggery
thuggish
thuggishly
thuggishness
thuglife

Word Origin & Etymology

Formed in the 19th century by combining the noun 'thug'—borrowed from Hindi 'thag' (meaning 'swindler' or 'robber')—with the English adjectival suffix '-ish'.

Cite this Entry

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