as in thug
a violent, brutal person who is often a member of an organized gang
a gang of ruffians preying upon people who ventured into that section of town
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Recent Examples of ruffian
Read More: Fans React to Beyoncé's New Album Cowboy Carter
Once seen as ruffians and pushed to the outskirts of Victorian society, cowboys were reinvented as rugged cultural heroes in the American consciousness in the early 20th century through dime novels, rodeos, movies, and more.
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TIME, 12 Apr. 2024
The building, erected in 1915 as the Rieger Hotel, served traveling salesmen, railroad ruffians and gangsters in the early 20th Century.
—David Hudnall, Kansas City Star, 11 Apr. 2024
And America’s democratic allies, who well understand the importance of U.S. democratic leadership to the global cause of freedom, have been badly shaken by the images of ruffians rampaging through the world’s most powerful democratic assembly
Get unlimited access to all Foreign Affairs.
—Larry Diamond, Foreign Affairs, 7 Jan. 2021
He was also occasionally harassed on the property; some local ruffians tried to break down its door, and others once beat him and left him for dead.
—Daniel Foster, National Review, 30 Nov. 2023
See all Example Sentences for ruffian 
TIME, 12 Apr. 2024
The building, erected in 1915 as the Rieger Hotel, served traveling salesmen, railroad ruffians and gangsters in the early 20th Century.
—David Hudnall, Kansas City Star, 11 Apr. 2024
And America’s democratic allies, who well understand the importance of U.S. democratic leadership to the global cause of freedom, have been badly shaken by the images of ruffians rampaging through the world’s most powerful democratic assembly
Get unlimited access to all Foreign Affairs.
—Larry Diamond, Foreign Affairs, 7 Jan. 2021
He was also occasionally harassed on the property; some local ruffians tried to break down its door, and others once beat him and left him for dead.
—Daniel Foster, National Review, 30 Nov. 2023
See all Example Sentences for ruffian
Recent Examples of Synonyms for ruffian
Noun
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The climax, in which Dwight and his crew beat a group of nameless Chinese immigrant thugs into submission after they’re used as cannon fodder by Cal Thresher to sabotage Dwight’s wind turbines, is more important to the plot and even uglier.Sean T. Collins, Vulture, 13 Oct. 2024
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Like other Diablo games, Hades would support cooperative multiplayer, but in the Arkham games, groups of thugs would circle around the Dark Knight, comic-book style, waiting to be punched in the face.Jason Schreier, WIRED, 8 Oct. 2024
Noun
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Just weeks after closing out an incredibly dominant year in music, Rihanna was cast by some fans and members of the media as the villain and endlessly harassed by those who felt Brown did nothing wrong.Kyle Denis, Billboard, 19 Nov. 2024
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Emma Corrin also starred in the film as the villain, Cassandra Nova.Joe Otterson, Variety, 18 Nov. 2024
Noun
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Cybercrime As retailers prepare for the big holiday rush — when shoplifters could also take advantage of crowds to ramp up — other kinds of criminals are at the back door.Evan Clark, WWD, 22 Nov. 2024
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Being in close proximity to Adams and the criminal as the gun went off, Jo and her unborn twins could also potentially be in danger.Nellie Andreeva, Deadline, 21 Nov. 2024
Noun
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But the pandemic-era inflationary period played out unlike any other in history, and wealthy people made out like bandits.Allison Morrow, CNN, 31 Oct. 2024
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When the film starts, a cursed bandit of pirates led by Captain Barbossa (Geoffrey Rush) are aboard Sparrow’s former ship, the Black Pearl, and have kidnapped Turner’s love interest, Elizabeth Swann (Knightley).Yasmeen Hamadeh, People.com, 27 Oct. 2024
Noun
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Many Japanese action films are too much about fantasy, either Yakuza [gangsters] or serial killers.Patrick Frater, Variety, 1 Nov. 2024
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Tyler takes aim at the masks people wear to hide from their true selves, evoking a middle-class gangster and a closeted religious zealot.Jeff Ihaza, Rolling Stone, 30 Oct. 2024
Noun
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It was enacted during a time when pirates were kidnapping ambassadors from France, and was meant to promote goodwill on behalf of America.Tresa Baldas, Detroit Free Press, 12 Nov. 2024
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The vibe: Themes of fairs have expanded into pirate and celtic territory, like Gasparilla Pirate Fest in Florida and Pikes Peak Celtic Festival in Colorado.Analis Bailey, Axios, 3 Nov. 2024
Noun
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Nero is a cynical and surly assassin who is betrayed by his master and long-term ally.Anthony D'Alessandro, Deadline, 19 Nov. 2024
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Based on the classic 1971 novel of the same name, the series stars Eddie Redmayne as Jackal, an elusive lone assassin who makes a living carrying out hits.Monica Mercuri, Forbes, 1 Nov. 2024
Noun
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Though Charles moves into Pacific View to smoke out the thief, Schur presents an ecosystem of distinct characters who have made fulfilling lives for themselves in this building.Aramide Tinubu, Variety, 21 Nov. 2024
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The thieves got away with jewelry, according to police.Aaron Katersky, ABC News, 20 Nov. 2024
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Cite this Entry
“Ruffian.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/ruffian. Accessed 1 Dec. 2024.
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