Synonyms of mugging

mugging 1 of 2

noun

as in burglary

Related Words

• burglary
• break-in
• holdup
• stickup
• theft
• snatching
• heist
• grab
• swiping
• rip-off
• pinch

mugging

2 of 2

verb

present participle of mug

1

as in grimacing

to distort one's face

every time their picture was snapped, both children mugged by sticking out their tongues or scrunching up their faces

Synonyms & Similar Words

• grimacing
• staring
• scowling
• frowning
• sneering
• smirking
• mouthing
• glaring
• growling
• snarling
• gazing
• making a face
• pulling a face
• pouting
• deforming
• ogling
• contorting
• glowering
• gaping
• warping
• twisting
• simpering
• lowering
• glooming

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• smiling
• grinning
• beaming

2

as in photographing

to take a photograph of

mugging captured criminals for the police records

Synonyms & Similar Words

• photographing
• shooting
• snapping
• photoing
• filming
• picturing
• retaking
• videotaping
• imaging
• rephotographing

Example Sentences

Recent Examples of mugging

Noun

Is a 1-game suspension enough for the mugging? — Zach Dean Outkick, FOXNews.com, 26 June 2026

While investigating this incident, CPD also learned that a shot was fired during a mugging, also in the Lincoln Park neighborhood. — Adam Harrington, CBS News, 7 June 2026

There’s a whole plotline about Dzanielle’s desire to get a status dog walker named Yuki, who costs $1,500 a week, and another around a Birkin mugging. — Elise Taylor, Vanity Fair, 11 May 2026

An immigrant delivery man bashed unconscious during a botched four-on-one Manhattan mugging died of his injuries months later, cops said Sunday. — Rebecca White, New York Daily News, 15 Feb. 2026

That was the only way to see countries' delegations backflipping and mean-mugging from places like Cortina and Livigno, sort of alternating with the parade in Milan. — Pien Huang, NPR, 6 Feb. 2026

Staged to look like a random mugging of a courier, the robbery was, in fact, a sophisticated heist that would ultimately involve the Provisional IRA, the New York mafia and the Colombian cartel. — Jesse Whittock, Deadline, 9 Oct. 2025

The mugging of his early selfies has vanished. — David Kamp, New Yorker, 4 Oct. 2025

This lawyer-mugging could go without any response today. — U T Readers, San Diego Union-Tribune, 29 Aug. 2025

Verb

These are pictures of everyone competing at the tournament, wearing their nation’s kit, usually posing pretty seriously, but occasionally mugging for the camera. — Nick Miller, New York Times, 12 June 2026

Anticipating that someone might tip off TMZ about his presence at Disney World, the Republican Florida senator Rick Scott posted a photo of himself mugging for the camera there. — Paula Mejía, New Yorker, 15 Apr. 2026

Noem seemed to relish cruelty, and treated her job like a costume party, constantly mugging for cameras with guns and faux toughness as if the dismantling of lives and imprisoning even children was a game. — Los Angeles Times, 5 Apr. 2026

Toddler Adalina India, daughter of second baseman Jonathan India and his wife Daniella, scored a home run in the Cute Kiddie Pics division, mugging like a pro on the field for her mom. — Lisa Gutierrez march 31, Kansas City Star, 31 Mar. 2026

Denver’s 33-year-old shooting guard reveled in the moment, mean-mugging his way to the huddle. — Bennett Durando, Denver Post, 21 Mar. 2026

For most of the show, Bad Bunny had been mugging merrily to the camera, flaring his eyes and making hammy gestures to illustrate his words. — Spencer Kornhaber, The Atlantic, 9 Feb. 2026

It’s been a strenuous 18-year fall from grace since Susan Sarandon handed the magnificent disaster his Golden Globe, his longtime buddy Bruce Springsteen mugging with glee as a standing ovation crowd cheered him on. — Steve Garbarino, HollywoodReporter, 22 Jan. 2026

When humpbacks draw near to the boat to investigate the vessel with curiosity, this is called mugging, according to the owner of Gone Whale Watching San Diego. — Kelli Bender, PEOPLE, 19 Jan. 2026