Definition

1. Noun:
   • A person who commits robbery, typically in a public place, by threatening or using violence against the victim: A mugger is a criminal who steals from someone directly, often on the street, using intimidation or physical force.

Usage Examples

• Noun:
  • The police warned residents about a mugger operating in the park after dark.
  • She was unharmed but shaken after an encounter with a mugger.
  • The victim described the mugger to a sketch artist.

Advanced Usage

• "To be mugged by a mugger": This phrasing, while sometimes used for emphasis, is often considered redundant. The verb "to mug" already implies the action.
  • He was mugged on his way home. (This is more common than "He was mugged by a mugger.")

Variants and Related Words

• Mug (verb): To attack and rob someone in a public place.
  • Thieves tried to mug him, but he fought them off.
• Mugging (noun): The act or an instance of being mugged.
  • There has been a spate of muggings in the city center.

Synonyms

• Robber: A person who commits robbery.
• Street thief: A thief who operates in public areas.
• Assailant: A person who physically attacks another (this is a broader term that can include a mugger).

Related Phrases

• "To be an easy mark/target for a mugger": To appear vulnerable to being mugged.
  • Walking alone with headphones on can make you an easy target for a mugger.

Notes on Different Meanings

• The word "mugger" has a different, zoological meaning referring to a species of crocodile (), often called the "mugger crocodile." This meaning is highly specific and primarily used in biological or regional (South Asian) contexts. In general English usage, the criminal definition is overwhelmingly more common.
  • The mugger crocodile is found in freshwater habitats across the Indian subcontinent.

Noun

1. a robber who takes property by threatening or performing violence on the person who is robbed (usually on the street)