thug

[ thuhg ]

noun

1. a violent, lawless, or vicious person, especially one who commits a crime such as assault, robbery, or murder:

   It wasn't uncommon for hired thugs to intimidate shop owners until they paid up.

2. (sometimes initial capital letter) one of a former group of professional robbers and murderers in India who strangled their victims.

thug

/ θʌɡ /

noun

1. a tough and violent man, esp a criminal
2. sometimes capital (formerly) a member of an organization of robbers and assassins in India who typically strangled their victims

Usage Note

The word thug has had racial and cultural overtones since its adoption into the English language. It entered English during the British colonial period to describe a particular gang of criminals in India, but from the beginning, the otherness of the Indian robbers was intrinsic to the narrative about British colonial victims. In American English, the word is disproportionately applied to nonwhite perpetrators of violence or crime. White teens disturbing the peace at a party with loud music are more likely to be called troublemakers or hooligans. Their Black peers are more likely to be labeled thugs for the same offense. And following this common racialized usage, thug is used by some and interpreted by many as a code word for Black. In extreme cases, thug is chosen as a dog whistle to imply that Black people are generally prone to violence or criminality. However, there is also a reclaimed sense of thug within the Black community, and particularly in the hip-hop community, one that acknowledges the violence implicit in the label while also celebrating toughness and street smarts. Because thug has many implied connotations that may change depending on who is using the word and who is being described by it, it’s important to critically consider the context and tone around each particular instance of its use to truly understand what is being communicated.

Derived Forms

• ˈthuggish, adjective
• ˈthuggery, noun

Other Words From

• thug·ger·y [thuhg, -, uh, -ree], noun
• thug·gish adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of thug¹

First recorded in 1800–10; from Hindi, Marathi ṭhag “swindler, cheat, rogue,” perhaps from Sanskrit sthaga- “a cheat,” from sthagati “he conceals”

Word History and Origins

Origin of thug¹

C19: from Hindi thag thief, from Sanskrit sthaga scoundrel, from sthagati to conceal

Example Sentences

In his infamous deposition video, you can clearly see that the “thug life” façade is stripped away.

From The Daily Beast

Maybe the thug even used to be you, until you went straight.

From The Daily Beast

Women would refuse to go near any man with thuggish associations, for real—barely a thug could expect to get any action.

From The Daily Beast

I also made a thug chase movie with a bunch of my friends in high school.

From The Daily Beast

The Kremlin loses a useful propaganda tool, but it also eliminates a thug with a lot of Russian blood on his hands.

From The Daily Beast

If we risk ourselves against these fellows, and are victorious, will not every Thug in the land cry Shabash!

From Project Gutenberg

After all, Sahib, cannot you now understand the excitement which possesses the soul of a Thug in his pursuit of men?

From Project Gutenberg

We hear so much of him, that, by Bhowanee, perhaps an unlucky old Thug like myself may pick up something new.

From Project Gutenberg

The old Thug and myself had been bound together, and we were in this state thrust into one of the narrow cells of the jail.

From Project Gutenberg

I and another Thug were directed to watch their movements, while the main body went on.

From Project Gutenberg

Related Words

• assassin
• bandit
• bully
• criminal
• gangster
• goon
• gunman
• hooligan
• mobster
• murderer
• rowdy
• troublemaker