thugness
In real, traceable use. Part of the curated seed collection; community review is coming.
Meaning · English
The state, quality, or condition of a thug
Register: informal, slang
Where it’s used:
Used
American English
Examples
McWhorter contends that after Shakur's violent death, the black community rallied around the rapper as a victim of an unfair system, thus glorifying his thugness and run-ins with the law as a cool strike against the establishment.
Usage example from English Wiktionary (CC BY-SA 4.0, retrieved 2026-07-30)
Sources & notes
Adapted from English Wiktionary (CC BY-SA 4.0, retrieved 2026-07-30 via kaikki.org).
Common questions
What does “thugness” mean?
The state, quality, or condition of a thug
Is “thugness” formal or informal?
thugness is generally informal, slang.