hoodlum

plural hoodlums

1. A gangster; a hired thug.

   When the hoodlums reach their headquarters...

   1942 June 16, Jerry Siegel, “The Case of the Crimeless Crimes”, in Action Comics, volume 1, number 51, page 3

   4 more examples

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

   2018 September 19, Lisa Ling, “How the US helped create Trump’s ‘violent animals’”, in CNN

   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.

   2021 February 9, Christina Newland, “Is Tom Hanks part of a dying breed of genuine movie stars?”, in BBC

   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.

   2023 August 20, Richard Galant, “Opinion: A powerful weapon for prosecutors is now in the hands of Fani Willis”, in CNN

   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.

   2024 August 1, Nimi Princewill and Stephanie Busari, “Violence erupts as Nigerians protest hunger across the nation”, in CNN

   Synonyms: criminal, crook, committer, culprit, delinquent, desperado, double-dealer, felon

2. A rough or violent youth.

   Synonyms: agitator, bad boy, bad news, bear, beggar, bhoy, blackguard, booger