bruiser

[broo-zer]

noun

Informal.

1. a strong, tough person.

   The football player was over six feet tall and weighed 285 pounds—a real bruiser.

bruiser

/ ˈbruːzə /

noun

1. informal,  a strong tough person, esp a boxer or a bully

Word History and Origins

Origin of bruiser¹

First recorded in 1580–90; bruise + -er ¹

Example Sentences

The apple’s signature foamy texture means it is an easy bruiser and doesn’t store as well as other varieties.

Read more on The Wall Street Journal

Don’t look now, but a Lincoln Riley team just beat the snot out of a Big Ten bruiser.

Read more on Los Angeles Times

As urban lizards go, it’s a bruiser, with bodies up to 7 inches long.

Read more on Los Angeles Times

Mr. Prescott also had a reputation as a pugnacious political bruiser.

Read more on New York Times

John Prescott was an old-style political bruiser who played a vital role in the New Labour project.

Read more on BBC

Related Words

• assailant 
• boxer 
• champion 
• combatant 
• mercenary 
• militant 
• opponent 
• soldier 
• tanker 
• warlord 
• warrior