hooligan

noun

hoo·li·gan ˈhü-li-gən

plural hooligans

Synonyms of hooligan next

: a usually young man who engages in rowdy or violent behavior especially as part of a group or gang : ruffian, hoodlum

We had four great beefy hooligans on to us when Linton got his tooth knocked out.—

P. G. Wodehouse

"At school I ran with the hooligans and tried to act tough."—

John Keen

More recently the tabloid press dubbed English football hooligans "lager louts" as if it was the fizzy beer that was the problem rather than that many supporters were more interested in fighting than football.—

Henry Jeffreys

Examples of hooligan in a Sentence

London bobbies clearing the streets of hooligans

Recent Examples on the Web

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

On Wednesday, a Dortmund bar came under attack by Dutch hooligans, with the intention seemingly being to steal a St George flag. —

Richard Sutcliffe, The Athletic, 13 July 2024 Some have focused their anger on the community after some of the hooligans who attacked Israelis could be heard in videos of the attacks speaking Moroccan Arabic and Berber languages native to Morocco. —

Freddie Clayton, NBC News, 18 Nov. 2024 There were also Amsterdam residents who were attacked by Maccabi hooligans. —

Canaan Lidor, Sun Sentinel, 14 Nov. 2024 Banning orders — whereby passports have to be handed in before any England fixture abroad — have also been used to keep the hooligans away, while the Football Association insist tickets are only sold through the official supporters travel club. —

Richard Sutcliffe, The Athletic, 13 July 2024 See all Example Sentences for hooligan