Find Synonyms

ruffian Synonyms

Another word for ruffian

Choosing another word for ruffian depends on context, so the 13 synonyms and similar words below are separated across 2 exact definitions and ranked by match strength.
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• noun (Context 1)

A violent, wild, or lawless person, especially one involved in crime or bullying.

Usage Example

"In the nineteenth-century novel, the traveler was accosted by a band of street ruffians near the docks."

Strongest
thug
hoodlum
hooligan
Strong
bully
miscreant
scoundrel
rowdy
roughneck
goon

• adjective (Context 2)

Brutal, violent, lawless, or characteristic of a bully or hoodlum.

Usage Example

"The mayor vowed to put an end to the ruffianly behavior disrupting the peaceful town square."

Strongest
ruffianly
thuggish
Strong
rowdy
brutal
lawless

Opposites of ruffian

The opposite of ruffian shifts depending on context. Common opposites include:

law-abiding
peaceable
gentleman
civilized
gentle
peacemaker
See all opposites of ruffian

• Nearby Words

ruff
ruffed
ruffed grouse
ruffian
ruffle
ruffly
rufous

Cite this Entry

Wordmom. (2026). Synonyms for Ruffian. In Wordmom Thesaurus. Retrieved Nov 5, 2026, from https://wordmom.com/synonyms/ruffian
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