as in tough
a young person who has committed a crime
Synonyms & Similar Words
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Example Sentences
Recent Examples of Synonyms for juvenile delinquent
Noun
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The most nail-biting scene in the movie involves not a local tough but Claire, desperate in withdrawal, threatening to kidnap and kill the family dog if Kate doesn’t give her some money.—
Alison Willmore,
Vulture,
12 June 2025 -
Williams is already Beale Street jerky tough and looks like a plug-and-play 3-and-D wing.—
Kelly Iko,
The Athletic,
11 Apr. 2024
Noun
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Mohammed's character Hugh has to snort cocaine during the trio's initial meeting with the gangster Fly (Paddy Considine) to prove that the trio aren't posers.—
Ralphie Aversa,
USA Today,
14 June 2025
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His father was a Genovese gangster murdered by the Colombo crime family in retaliation for committing two slayings — a story people told Pappa as a child — and his stepfather was locked up for drug and tax evasion charges.—
John Annese,
New York Daily News,
9 June 2025
Noun
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He was credited as Arnold Strong (and dubbed over) in Hercules in New York (1970) before finding his footing as a mobster in Robert Altman's enduring The Long Goodbye (1973) and winning a Golden Globe for Bob Rafelson's Stay Hungry (1976).—
Randall Colburn,
EW.com,
12 June 2025
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He’s also known for his roles as Quentin Travers in Buffy the Vampire Slayer, NSA director Roger Stanton in 24, and Kansas City mobster Buddy Dieker in Ozark.—
Ryan Schwartz,
TVLine,
11 June 2025
Noun
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Culture is less well studied in gorillas than in other great apes.—
Rachel Nuwer,
Scientific American,
10 June 2025
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The idea for the fight was born out of the viral 100 men vs. one gorilla online debate.—
Tony Maglio,
HollywoodReporter,
29 May 2025
Noun
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Friends and neighbors worried that these rumors could attract dangerous young ruffians who might harm them and steal the money.—
Mara Bovsun,
New York Daily News,
15 Dec. 2024
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Troy Stecher is a puck-mover with some two-way ability but is not considered a ruffian in the corners and in front of the net.—
Allan Mitchell,
The Athletic,
9 Aug. 2024
Noun
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But throwing out our precious rights and freedoms, and allowing masked, unidentified thugs to roam our streets detaining people at will is absolutely not the answer.—
Letters to the Editor,
The Orlando Sentinel,
18 June 2025
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In an empty warehouse somewhere, McKenna leaves Stabler alone with Vincent Mathis, Emery’s thug.—
Kimberly Roots,
TVLine,
12 June 2025
Noun
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Critics say police gave up when the rioting erupted in 1992, letting big chunks of the city burn while looters and hoodlums ruled.—
Seema Mehta,
Los Angeles Times,
12 June 2025
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His hoodlum phase in New York was re-created at the Lenox Lounge in Harlem.—
CBS News,
CBS News,
2 May 2025
Noun
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Pavement was real end-of-the-century stuff, punk’s ethos of sledgehammering critique stripped of its former heroism and shock value.—
Armin Rosen,
The Washington Examiner,
6 June 2025
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Riot Grrrl band Emily’s Sassy Lime will have an installation of archival music videos, photographs, zines and more from the 1990s; recent teenage punk band the Linda Lindas, who draw inspiration from Emily’s Sassy Lime, will also present their music videos, drawings and props.—
Alia Yee Noll,
Los Angeles Times,
4 June 2025
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Cite this Entry
“Juvenile delinquent.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/juvenile%20delinquent. Accessed 24 Jun. 2025.
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