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bruiser

bruiser

7 7.2
A large strong man who looks tough and ready to fight
  • noun
  • /ˈbruːzər/
  • Informal
translation icon : forzudo
  • The bruiser towered over his opponents, showcasing his strength and intimidating presence in the boxing ring.
  • a big bruiser
  • a real bruiser
  • the local bruiser

Bills, Bills fucking well, confident he's a bruiser.

Examples

  • Paul Vitti gets out of his car and walks to the warehouse with his most trusted soldier, Jelly, a hulking bruiser, and his sidekick Jimmy, a tightly wound ferret with chips on both shoulders.

    Fiction book (1999)
  • We have the newly- crowned Texas Heavyweight Champion, Kevin Von Erich here and he is scheduled to fight in a tag-team match later on tonight against Gino Hernandez and Bruiser Brody.

  • A bruiser like this will want to eat every hour.

    Fiction book (1994)
  • Now this is what I call a bruiser!

  • Look at this big bruiser!

  • The bruiser charges toward Hank.

    Fiction book (1990)
  • It's not every day that a notorious bruiser of a director gets along with his producer.

    Blog text (4)
  • A big bruiser of a cab driver leans back over the seat, sizing Jonah up.

    Fiction book (1993)
  • The 245-pound bruiser wowed pundits and fans alike with his combination of power and agility.

    Blog text (28)
  • Redshirt sophomore bruiser Zach Zwinak once again led the ground game with 135 yards and a touchdown.

    Blog text (33)

Synonyms

hulk
vsbruiser
146 4.7

A very large heavy person, animal, or thing

includes aggression and heavyset build as part of the description
tough guy
vsbruiser
  • Informal
143 4.2

A man who acts strong to scare people

is actually large and heavyset, not only acting tough
muscle
vsbruiser
  • Informal
39 8.2

A person who is paid to use force or threats for someone else

is not necessarily employed but is naturally large, strong, and tough
heavyweight
vsbruiser
29 3.5

A person who has great power or influence in a field

focuses more narrowly on physical size and aggressive toughness
bull
vsbruiser
  • Informal
25 7.4

A large strong man who looks physically powerful

is similar but stresses both weight and aggressive character more
brawler
vsbruiser
8 6.2

A person who fights roughly in places like bars

may fight but is defined primarily by large, heavyset build and toughness
strongman
vsbruiser
2 5.6

A man who shows great physical strength by doing acts like bending steel

is a naturally heavyset tough person rather than a public strength performer
heavy
vsbruiser
  • Jargon
1 8.1

A person who plays a villain in a play or film

is a real person likely heavyset and tough rather than a dramatic role
real bruiser
vsbruiser
  • Informal
1 7.5

A person who is very strong and tough, like a boxer or a team defender

is large and strong but less extreme in aggression or reputation
strapper
vsbruiser
1 9.2

A big, strong person who can lift heavy things

adds a sense of toughness and aggressiveness beyond mere size
hulk of a man
vsbruiser
1 5.2

A very large man who is strong

adds that this size often comes with toughness or aggressiveness
mauler
vsbruiser
1 7.9

A fighter who hits opponents very hard, often a boxer

is defined by size and general aggressiveness rather than combative style
walloper
vsbruiser
  • Informal
1 9.7

A person who hits with great force

is broader, describing overall large, strong, and tough physical presence
muscleman
vsbruiser
7.3

A man hired to threaten or protect others

is more about natural size and personal toughness rather than employment role
strong-armer
vsbruiser
  • NSFW
9.9

A young person who uses threats or physical force to steal from people

is not necessarily criminal but is large, strong, and physically intimidating

Antonyms

softie
  • Offensive
14 5.8

A person who shows strong feelings and is easily moved

Compounds

real bruiser
  • Informal
1 7.5

A person who is very strong and tough, like a boxer or a team defender

How Tough

strongman
2 5.6
bruiser
  • Informal
7 7.2
tough guy
  • Informal
143 4.2
weakling
  • Offensive
24 4.4

Surface Forms

bruiser singular
bruisers plural

Morphology

bruiser = bruise (opaque) = bruise + er

The term 'bruiser' does not directly relate to the act of bruising, but rather metaphorically implies toughness or aggressiveness.

Etymology

Bruiser comes from the verb bruise ('to hurt by hitting') plus the ending -er that means 'one who does something'. So a bruiser is someone who gives or gets bruises — a big, tough man who looks ready to fight.