hoodlum
38
7.6
- noun
- /ˈhʊd.ləm/
- Offensive
:
pandillero
- She warned her son not to associate with the hoodlums who were always getting into trouble.
- young hoodlums
- thugs and hoodlums
- a gang of hoodlums
And another thing, there were no hoodlums, like anywhere.
- And another thing, there were no hoodlums, like anywhere.
- And I guess I started to reflect on being basically a young hoodlum really.
Examples
-
Suddenly, two young hoodlums were there; one hit him in the shoulder, and the other grabbed his throat.
Fiction book (1995) -
I heard my brother got mixed up with some hoodlums.
-
Look, this afternoon, he was working as a courier for a 25 year old hoodlum
-
I don't want you hanging out with this hoodlum.
-
Their first clue was the appearance of five local hoodlums who were blocking the narrow alley.
Fiction book (1999) -
DePasquale was a young hoodlum on the fringes of the Lucia crime family organization.
Fiction book (1992) -
These hoodlums bothering you?
-
Two broad-shouldered hoodlums in expensive suits saunter down the catwalk.
Fiction book (2002) -
The dispatcher, one Miss Lucy Wexel, had been with the department since Retsler was a teenage hoodlum at Taft High School.
Fiction book (1999) -
The neighborhood was troubled by a group of hoodlums causing chaos in the streets.
Synonyms
466
7.9
A young person who acts violently or breaks the law
249
4.4
A person who is part of a group that does illegal things
244
4.9
A violent person who attacks or threatens others
76
8.1
A violent person hired to threaten or hurt others
71
8.9
A young person who does violent street crimes
58
5.8
A person who is part of a gang that does illegal things and often uses violence
37
9.9
A young person who belongs to a street gang or acts tough like gang members
31
9.9
A person who joins a criminal gang and often takes part in violent acts
5
9.9
An insulting word for a person from a poor neighborhood who behaves in a rough or criminal way
5
7.5
A person who is strong and may threaten or hurt others
1
9.9
A young person who behaves in a threatening or criminal way
1
9.9
A young man who helps criminals and often carries a gun
A young person who is violent and often breaks the law
A young person who uses threats or physical force to steal from people
A young person who causes trouble or takes part in small crimes
How Violent
- Offensive
244
4.9
249
4.4
- Offensive
38
7.6
20
6.1
- Offensive
69
4.1
Surface Forms
Etymology
Hoodlum probably comes from American slang in the late 1800s, and one idea says it grew from hood meaning 'gang member' or 'criminal', though some people also link it to a family name. A helpful way to remember it is to think of a hood as a young 'troublemaker', so a hoodlum is someone who joins a gang or causes violent trouble.