ruffian
- noun
- /ˈrʌfiən/
- Offensive
- Do you have any idea what sort of ruffians prowl these roads?
Examples
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So the people attacked the ruffians and put them in the hospital.
Fiction book (1991) -
The ruffian threatened the shopkeeper and demanded money in a harsh tone.
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And they think of me as the ruffian.
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Lord knows what that ruffian might've done had we been alone on the stage for two days.
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Let go of me, you ruffians!
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I was disarmed by those ruffians the other day.
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The last place in the world I wanted to be was in the midst of those rampaging ruffians.
Fiction book (1995) -
Come on, Philip, let's go and teach these ghastly ruffians manners.
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Who are these ruffians?
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"Hello, Blair." "Tell me what's wrong?" "Your men are ruffians; that's what's wrong."
Fiction book (1994)
Synonyms
A person who scares or hurts people who are weaker
A violent person who attacks or threatens others
A violent or noisy person who causes trouble in public, often at sports events
A person who acts very tough and reckless in arguments or fights
A person who is strong and may threaten or hurt others
A person who acts violently and often starts fights
A young man who is rude, noisy, and sometimes violent in public
A person who acts violently or causes trouble in public
A young man who is loud, rude, and often aggressive
Antonyms
How Violent
- NSFW
- Offensive
- Offensive
- Offensive
- Offensive
- Offensive
Surface Forms
Etymology
Ruffian came into English from old French and Italian words like ruffiano, which meant 'bad man' or 'bully'. A helpful way to remember ruffian is that it sounds like rough, and a ruffian is someone 'rough' and violent.