Meaning & use
hoodlum
Last updated
A young troublemaker or petty criminal, especially one who behaves violently or destructively.
See it in a sentence
A group of hoodlums vandalized the park's benches overnight.
The old man complained about the hoodlums who kept knocking over his mailbox.
A note on using this word
Hoodlum is somewhat old-fashioned and informal, usually used with a tone of mild disapproval rather than as a serious legal term.
Words with a similar meaning
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