Synonyms of hoodlum
96 similar words
Another word for hoodlum is criminal. Other synonyms of hoodlum are perpetrator, mischief-maker, instigator, agitator and ruffian.
Synonyms and similar words for hoodlum
nounA gangster; a hired thug.
- criminalA person who is guilty of a crime, notably breaking the law.
- crook
- committer
- culprit
- delinquent
- desperado
- double-dealerOne who double deals; a cheat or crook.
- felon
- lawbreakerOne who breaks (violates) the law, a criminal.
- lowlife
- malefactor
- malfeasantSomeone guilty of such conduct; a malefactor.
- offender
- outlaw
- perpetratorOne who perpetrates; especially, one who commits an offence or crime.
- public enemyA criminal widely regarded as dangerous or antisocial.
- scofflaw
- undesirableAn undesirable person.
nounA rough or violent youth.
- agitatorOne who agitates; one who stirs up or excites others, for example political reformers.
- bad boy
- bad news
- bear
- beggarA mean or wretched person; a scoundrel.
- bhoy
- blackguard
- booger
- boot boy
- bovver boyA hooligan who creates bother (trouble), specifically a member of a skinhead gang.
- brat
- brawler
- buffoon
- bugger
- bully
- charva dialectal
- cutup
- devil
- elf
- enfant terrible
- firebrand
- gadfly
- hell-raiser
- hood
- hool slang
- hoolie slang
- hooliganA young person who causes trouble or violence, typically as a member of a gang or other group.
- hothead
- imp
- inciterOne who incites.
- initiator
- instigatorA person who intentionally instigates, incites, or starts something, especially one that creates trouble.
- joker
- jokester
- knave
- loutA troublemaker, often violent; a rude violent person; a yob.
- makebate
- minx
- mischiefA cause or agent of annoyance, harm or injury, especially a person who causes mischief.
- mischief-makerA person who makes mischief.
- miscreant
- ne'er-do-well
- pixie
- pot stirrerOne who causes unrest; one who stirs the pot.
- practical jokerSomeone who instigates practical jokes; a prankster.
- pranksterOne who performs pranks.
- puck
- punkA petty criminal, especially a juvenile delinquent.
- rabble rouserSomeone or something that tends to inspire mobs; something controversial or provocative.
- rapscallionA rascal, scamp, rogue, or scoundrel.
- rascal
- rogue
- rowdy
- ruffianA scoundrel, rascal, or unprincipled, deceitful, brutal and unreliable person.
- scampA rascal, swindler, or rogue; a ne'er-do-well.
- scapegraceA wild and reckless person (especially a boy); a scoundrel.
- scoundrelA mean, worthless fellow; a rascal; a villain; a person without honor or virtue.
- shit disturber
- shitmongerA person who peddles worthless, overblown, or harmful ideas or gossip.
- shit-stirrerOne who enjoys creating trouble for others by provoking controversy, for example by revealing facts that others would...
- tearawayAn impetuous and reckless person who is difficult to control; a hothead.
- thug
- toughA person who obtains things by force; a thug or bully.
- troublemaker
- vandal
- wag
- wrangler
- yob UK
- yobbo UKA yob.
- breedbate obsoleteSomeone who causes quarrels; a quarreler.
- jackanapes dated(A proper name for) a person thought to behave like an ape or monkey, for example, in being impudent, mischievous...
- kindle-coal obsoleteA troublemaker.
- kindle-fire obsoleteSomething, such as a person or event, that initiates events or incites a response.
- rakeshame obsoleteAn objectionable person.
- rantipole obsoleteA rude, unruly young person.
- roly-poly obsoleteA mischievous or worthless person; a scoundrel, a rascal.
- titivil obsoleteA mischievous gossip or a troublemaker.
- wagpastie obsoleteA rogue; a rascal; a scoundrel.
Meaning of hoodlum
- noun A gangster; a hired thug.
- noun A rough or violent youth.
hoodlum in other languages
Questions about synonyms of hoodlum
- What is another word for hoodlum?
- Hoodlum has 96 synonyms on Word.ws, such as criminal, perpetrator, mischief-maker, instigator, agitator, ruffian, scamp and lout.
- What does hoodlum mean?
- Hoodlum means a gangster; a hired thug.
Source and license
Adapted from Wiktionary: hoodlum (page history and authors) and the entries of the words listed. Text available under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 license. Word.ws grouped the synonyms and antonyms by meaning and added links. Wiktionary data of 2026-09-02.
Last updated:
Cite this page: “Synonyms of hoodlum.” Word.ws, https://word.ws/synonyms/hoodlum. Based on Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.