noun

ruffian

RUF-ee-uhn/ˈrʌfiən/

A violent or brutal person.

The ruffian pins the passerby against the wall and raises a threatening fist.

A street aggressor brutally pins an unresisting passerby against a plain wall by his shirtfront and raises a fist to strike; his open defensive hands make the one-sided intimidation clear.

Etymology

Ruffiano meant a pimp or pander, while English broadened the label to a brutal, lawless fellow. Its deeper origin is uncertain, and resemblance to rough may have influenced the English meaning.

In context

LY Manhwa Recap87:03

The imminent threat was the local ruffian Scar-Faced Six. Before my awakening, I d run with him, and I knew this fellow was capable of anything. A verbal threat was still a threat

My Father Was Crippled, My Clan Abandoned Us, and I Awakened a Hunting Skill System

More examples

Two ruffians attacked him outside the station.
She refuses to be intimidated by the neighborhood ruffian.
The guards dragged the knife-wielding ruffian away from the crowd.

Forms

ruffian · ruffians

Similar words

thug: Emphasizes violent criminal behavior, often used to intimidate others.
brute: Emphasizes cruelty and physical force rather than criminal behavior.
bully: Emphasizes intimidating weaker people, not necessarily through physical violence.