Hoodlum

/ˈhuːdləm/ · noun

Meaning

A gangster; a hired thug..

Definitions by Sense

1. A gangster; a hired thug.
2. A rough or violent youth.

Example Sentences

When the hoodlums reach their headquarters...

There is no question the MS-13 gang must be stopped. It is a vile organization of hoodlums with no regard for life.

In Sam Mendes's excellent gangster movie Road to Perdition (2002), he tested the boundaries further playing a hitman – but while we know he's a killer, we never really see him go full-pelt hoodlum.

Caesar Enrico “Rico” Bandello is a hoodlum who rises swiftly in Chicago’s mob world, in the 1931 film “Little Caesar.” Played by Edward G. Robinson, Rico is tracked down by police and shot.

The state’s police spokesman Wasiu Abiodun told CNN in a statement that operatives arrested 11 armed “hoodlums” who set fire to a government building after looting it.

Synonyms for hoodlum

Antonyms for hoodlum

Related Words

Word Forms

• hoodlums

Usage Notes

Choose a synonym only when it preserves the intended meaning, tone, and grammar of the full sentence.

Practice and Learn More

Frequently Asked Questions