thug — A violent person, especially a criminal
Part of speech: NOUN
Definition: A violent person, especially a criminal
Pronunciation (IPA): /θʌɡ/
Example Sentences
- The movie villain hired a bunch of thugs to do his dirty work.
- My cat acts like a thug, stealing food from other pets.
- He looked like a thug but was actually a gentle kindergarten teacher.
thug
NOUN[/θʌɡ/]
A violent person, especially a criminal

A violent person, especially a criminal

A thug finds peace in a hug and mug
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🎤Pronunciation
🌳Etymology
Origin
The word derives from Hindi thag, meaning 'to deceive or swindle.' It specifically refers to members of Thuggee, a organized criminal sect active in 19th-century India who worshipped the Hindu goddess Kali and murdered travelers through strangulation to rob them.
Breakdown
thag (Hindi: to deceive, cheat) + -ue/-ee (Hindi suffix denoting practitioners or followers), evolving into English thug to mean a violent criminal or ruffian.
🎵Rhyme
🔗Collocations
📝Examples
“The movie villain hired a bunch of thugs to do his dirty work.”
“My cat acts like a thug, stealing food from other pets.”
“He looked like a thug but was actually a gentle kindergarten teacher.”
📚Related Words
Synonyms
Antonyms
Related
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