toughies

noun

plural of toughie
as in thugs
a violent, brutal person who is often a member of an organized gang after numerous suspensions, the school toughies were finally expelled for gang activities on campus

Synonyms & Similar Words

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Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of toughies Other toughies are at the not-so-soft Pittsburgh Steelers in Week 13, the revenge trip to New England in Week 15 and the Philadelphia Eagles at Highmark Stadium in Week 17. — Tim Graham, New York Times, 16 Oct. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for toughies
  1. thugs
  2. villains
  3. criminals
  4. bandits
  5. gangsters
  6. toughs
  7. pirates
  8. assassins
Noun
  • These low-level thugs typically are not believed to be formally aligned with Iran.
    — Timothy Nerozzi, The Washington Examiner, 13 Oct. 2026
  • Saint played Edie Doyle, whose brother was murdered by thugs working for a mob boss running a longshoremen's union; her character becomes involved with Brando's pugilistic dockworker Terry Malloy.
    — David Morgan, CBS News, 6 Oct. 2026
Definition of thugs
Noun
  • Much psychological research has focussed on the degradation of villains, but a symmetrical force works to elevate victims.
    — Paul Bloom, New Yorker, 6 Nov. 2026
  • Catwoman For a sexy twist on your classic cat makeup, channel one of the comic book world's most beloved villains.
    — Michella Oré, Glamour, 27 Oct. 2026
Definition of villains
Noun
  • According to investigators cited by NBC News, the criminals have shown planning and sophistication by employing techniques like GPS location spoofing and even arranging collisions with police escort vehicles.
    — Nick Indge, ArsTechnica, 6 Nov. 2026
  • Without changing state law, criminals can continue to be sentenced to death in California.
    — Sonja Sharp, Los Angeles Times, 5 Nov. 2026
Definition of criminals
Noun
  • Attacks by bandits are common across northern Nigeria where armed groups carry out attacks against civilian populations.
    — ABC News, ABC News, 27 Oct. 2026
  • Attacks by bandits are common across northern Nigeria, where armed groups carry out attacks against civilian populations.
    — Dyepkazah Shibayan, Los Angeles Times, 27 Oct. 2026
Definition of bandits
Noun
  • The Capone associates lined up six members of Moran's gang, and a seventh unaffiliated man who apparently liked hanging out with gangsters, against the north wall of the garage.
    — Adam Harrington, CBS News, 27 Oct. 2026
  • For decades, Hollywood actor Danny Trejo’s bread and butter was playing gangsters, prison inmates and other assorted criminals.
    — Corky Siemaszko, NBC news, 15 Oct. 2026
Definition of gangsters
Noun
  • Déclassé warriors, sometimes joined by street toughs from other walks of life, gave themselves the airs of swashbuckling samurai.
    — Ian Buruma, New Yorker, 12 Oct. 2026
  • In that version, the character is played by Joe Don Baker, the great character actor known for playing toughs in films like Walking Tall (1973) and Fletch (1985).
    — Britt Hayes, Entertainment Weekly, 5 June 2026
Definition of toughs
Noun
  • In September, Puntland authorities said pirates killed five crew members of the tanker MT Honour 25 before security forces recovered it.
    — ABC News, ABC News, 3 Nov. 2026
  • Maritime security experts aren’t sure where the pirates are getting their funding.
    — David Goldman, CNN Money, 29 Oct. 2026
Definition of pirates
Noun
  • Nobody knows who killed him, and the assassins begin to distrust one another.
    — Naman Ramachandran, Variety, 4 Nov. 2026
  • When Master is found dead and the identity of his killer remains a mystery, the assassins struggle with mutual distrust.
    — Liz Shackleton, Deadline, 3 Nov. 2026
Definition of assassins

Browse Nearby Words

toughie
toughies
toughing it out
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Toughies.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/toughies. Accessed 15 Nov. 2026.

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