bruiser
3 synonyms for bruiser, grouped by meaning and by how common each one is.
Noun — A big, physically tough person, especially one prone to rough treatment of others.
Synonyms
Everyday swaps
Common words most readers know — safe in any writing.
Less common
Still standard English, but they carry more weight.
Rare, literary or technical
Precise, but they will stand out — check the sense before using one.
Etymology
Formed from "bruise" plus "-er" — literally "one who bruises (others)".
Full origin of bruiser →