thug

IPA: θˈʌg

Someone with an intimidating and unseemly appearance and mannerisms, who treats others violently and roughly, often for hire.
(historical) One of a band of assassins formerly active in northern India who worshipped Kali and offered their victims to her.
(horticulture) An overvigorous plant that spreads and dominates the flowerbed.
A punk; a hoodlum; a hooligan.
A wooden bat used in the game of miniten, fitting around the player's hand.
(African-American Vernacular) One who, usually as a result of social disadvantage, has turned to committing crimes (e.g. selling drugs, robbery, assault, etc.) to make a living; a gangsta.

To commit acts of thuggery, to live the life of a thug, or to dress and act in a manner reminiscent of someone who does.

Examples of "thug" in Sentences

In the Dow Jones database, the name of the Serb leader and the word thug appear near each other 343 times.
I have a feeling that our thug is the same one that was banned for his tyraid a couple of weeks ago NYCflycaster.
Shine explained that the greatest prize for the thug is a cop on the take — or one willing to start down that road.
I think much of the discomfort in acknowledging Columbus as a thug is the feeling that if he was wrong then we should fix it.
I have even seen Trolls termed 'e-thugs' in recent days, perhaps not surprising since the term 'thug' has now become an important part of the Middle Eastern protest lexicon.