1. a violent criminal or gang member
Usage: informal
2. a young troublemaker who engages in petty crime or antisocial behavior
Usage: informal

Examples

• The police arrested several hoodlums after the street fight.
• Local hoodlums had been vandalizing cars in the neighborhood.
• The store owner was tired of hoodlums loitering outside his shop.
• Young hoodlums were caught spray-painting graffiti on the wall.
• The mayor promised to crack down on hoodlums terrorizing residents.
• Security cameras helped identify the hoodlums who broke the windows.