ruffianly

ADJECTIVE

tough

Synonyms

STRONGEST

desperate fierce hard hard-nosed harsh narrow resolute severe stern stiff strict terrible

STRONG

adamant firm refractory savage

WEAK

arbitrary callous confirmed cruel drastic exacting ferocious fixed hard-bitten hard-boiled hard-line hard-shelled headstrong immutable inflexible intractable merciless obdurate pugnacious ruthless stubborn taut unalterable unbending uncompromising uncontrollable unforgiving unmanageable unyielding vicious violent

Antonyms

STRONGEST

amenable easy flexible pliable pliant tolerant uncertain yielding

WEAK

controllable delicate fragile tender

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

He was a principal leader in the mutiny of 1857 & of a most ruffianly disposition.

From BBC • Apr. 4, 2018

And when amid the plaintiff's shrieks, The ruffianly defendant speaks�Upon the other side; What he may say you needn't mind�From bias free of every-kind, This trial must be tried!

From Time Magazine Archive

At the cinema their hearts, like those of a million shopgirls, beat hardest for ruffianly Clark Gable.

From Time Magazine Archive

It is not so many years since "Bolshevik" was a popular synonym for a low, ruffianly fellow and "ruble" was a popular synonym for the ultimate in worthless money.

From Time Magazine Archive

You have never witnessed a midnight search for a priest by these ruffianly catchpoles, as I have, or you would not say so.

From Guy Fawkes or The Gunpowder Treason by Ainsworth, William Harrison

ruffianly

Example Sentences

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