1. An aggressive and violent young criminal
   "The thug was arrested for vandalizing cars in the neighbourhood";
   - hood [slang], hoodlum, goon [informal], punk [N. Amer, informal], tough [informal], toughie [informal], strong-armer

1. Acting like a criminal or antisocially but with positive connotations
   "He thugged his way through the rap battle, impressing the crowd"

Derived forms: thugged, thugs, thugging

Type of: acquit, act, bear, behave, carry, comport, conduct, crim [Brit, informal], criminal, crook [informal], deport, do, felon, malefactor [formal], outlaw

Encyclopedia: Thug