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Definition of thuggishness

thuggishness

/ˈθʌɡ.ɪʃ.nəs/
thug · gish · ness
Adverb:thuggishly
•
Adjective:thuggish
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thuggishness Lexical Profile

thuggishness Game Scores & Validity

• noun

1

The quality or state of being violent, brutish, intimidating, or lawless in behavior.

Example

"The referee was praised for maintaining strict control of the match and refusing to tolerate any thuggishness on the field."

Synonyms
View all synonyms for thuggishness
Antonyms
View all antonyms for thuggishness

• Rhymes for thuggishness

• Nearby Words

thuggery
thuggish
thuggishly
thuggishness
thuglife
thuja
thukela

Word Origin & Etymology

Formed in English from 'thuggish' and the suffix '-ness', ultimately tracing back to the Hindi word 'thag' (thief or swindler), from Sanskrit 'sthaga' (cunning or fraudulent), which entered English in the early 19th century via descriptions of organized bands of robbers in India.

Usage Trend

Historical frequency of usage in published text.

180019102020
Data source: Google Books Ngram Viewer

Cite this Entry

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