Mug — Meaning, Definition & Synonyms

Meaning & Definition of Mug

Mug (noun)

a cylindrical drinking cup
the face or mouth of a person
grimace

Mug (verb)

to pose or make faces especially to attract attention or for a camera
photograph
to assault usually with intent to rob
to attack suddenly

Mug (noun) — Senses, Synonyms & Antonyms

a round vessel equipped with a handle and designed for drinking

"a coffee mug"

similar: cup

related: beaker, blackjack, stein, tankard, chalice, goblet, demitasse, noggin, teacup
a violent, brutal person who is often a member of an organized gang

"just a bunch of mugs with no respect for anyone, not even themselves"

similar: bully, gangbanger, gangsta, gangster, goon, gorilla, hood, hoodlum, hooligan, mobster, plug-ugly, punk, roughneck, rowdy, ruffian, thug, tough, toughie, yob (British), yobbo (British)

related: cutthroat, scoundrel, villain, assassin, bandit, bravo, brigand, criminal, crook, desperado, felon, gunman, highwayman, lawbreaker, mafioso, malefactor, offender, outlaw, perp, perpetrator, pirate, pickpocket, racketeer, robber, swindler, thief, vandal, juvenile delinquent, tearaway (British)
the front part of the head

"she joked about not having to see his ugly mug anymore"

similar: countenance, face, kisser (slang), pan (slang), puss (slang), visage

related: appearance, aspect, features, lineaments, looks, mien, presence, expression, physiognomy
the opening through which food passes into the body of an animal

"keep your mug shut and listen up"

similar: chops, gob (chiefly British), kisser (slang), mouth, piehole (slang), trap (slang), yap (slang)

related: countenance, face, puss (slang), visage, muzzle, jaws, mandible, maxilla, gullet, maw
a twisting of the facial features in disgust or disapproval

"an involuntary mug at the revolting sight"

similar: face, frown, grimace, lower, moue, mouth, mow, pout, scowl, snoot

related: flinch, squinch, wince, growl, snarl, rictus, simper, smirk, scoff, sneer, glare, glower, look, stare

near: grin, laugh, smile
one who is easily deceived or cheated

"the cardsharp was always on the lookout for a new mug"

similar: chump, dupe, gull, patsy, pigeon, pushover, sap, soft touch, sucker, tool

related: cat's-paw, mark, target, victim, schlemiel, butt, derision, laughingstock, mock, mockery, booby, dodo, fool, goose, half-wit, jackass, monkey, nincompoop, ninny, nitwit, simp, simpleton, turkey, yo-yo, loser, blockhead, dolt, dope, dumbbell, dummy, dunce, idiot, imbecile, moron, schlub (slang), schlump (slang), schnook (slang)

near: cheat, cheater, confidence man, cozener, defrauder, dodger, hoaxer, shark, sharper, slicker, swindler, trickster
a stupid person

"what kind of mug goes out in the rain without his brolly or a mackintosh?"

similar: airhead, birdbrain, blockhead, bonehead, bubblehead, chowderhead, chucklehead, clodpoll, clot (British), cluck, clunk, cretin, cuddy (British dialect), deadhead, dim bulb (slang), dimwit, dip, dodo, dolt, donkey, doofus (slang), dope, dork (slang), dullard, dum-dum, dumbbell, dumbhead, dummkopf, dummy, dunce, dunderhead, fathead, gander, golem, goof, goon, half-wit, hammerhead, hardhead, idiot, ignoramus, imbecile, jackass, know-nothing, knucklehead, lamebrain, loggerhead (chiefly dialect), loon, lump, lunkhead, meathead, mome (archaic), moron, mutt, nimrod (slang), nincompoop, ninny, ninnyhammer, nit (chiefly British), nitwit, noddy, noodle, numskull, oaf, pinhead, prat (British), ratbag (chiefly Australian), saphead, schlub (slang), schnook (slang), simpleton, stock, stupe, stupid, thickhead, turkey, woodenhead, yahoo, yo-yo, dumb cluck

related: booby, buffoon, fool, goose, loony, madman, nut, zany, loser, gawk, featherbrain, scatterbrain, beast, boor, cad, churl, clown, creep, cur, heel, jerk, skunk, snake, stinker, villain

opposite: brain, genius

near: intellect, intellectual, sage, thinker, whiz, wizard, polymath, Renaissance man, sharpie

Mug (verb) — Senses, Synonyms & Antonyms

to distort one's face

"every time their picture was snapped, both children mugged by sticking out their tongues or scrunching up their faces"

similar: grimace, mouth, make a face, pull a face

related: pout, contort, deform, twist, warp, frown, glare, gloom, glower, lower, scowl, gape, gaze, ogle, stare, growl, snarl, sneer, simper, smirk

near: beam, grin, smile
to take a photograph of

"mugging captured criminals for the police records"

similar: photo, photograph, shoot, snap

related: image, picture, rephotograph, retake, film, videotape

Synonyms, Thesaurus & Another Word for Mug

The most common words with a similar meaning to Mug:

Slang: kisser, pan, puss, piehole, trap, yap, dim bulb, doofus, dork, nimrod, schlub, schnook

British: yob, yobbo, clot, prat

Chiefly British: gob, nit

British dialect: cuddy

Chiefly dialect: loggerhead

Archaic: mome

cup, bully, gangbanger, gangsta, gangster, goon, gorilla, hood, hoodlum, hooligan, mobster, plug-ugly, punk, roughneck, rowdy, ruffian, thug, tough, toughie, countenance, face, visage, chops, mouth, frown, grimace, lower, moue, mow, pout, scowl, snoot, chump, dupe, gull, patsy, pigeon, pushover, sap, soft touch

Antonyms & Opposite Words for Mug

Words with the opposite meaning of Mug:

brain, genius

Related Words for Mug

beaker, blackjack, stein, tankard, chalice, goblet, demitasse, noggin, teacup, cutthroat, scoundrel, villain, assassin, bandit, bravo, brigand, criminal, crook, desperado, felon, gunman, highwayman, lawbreaker, mafioso, malefactor, offender, outlaw, perp, perpetrator, pirate

Near Antonyms of Mug

grin, laugh, smile, cheat, cheater, confidence man, cozener, defrauder, dodger, hoaxer, shark, sharper, slicker, swindler, trickster, intellect, intellectual, sage, thinker, whiz, wizard, polymath, Renaissance man, sharpie, beam

Word Forms of Mug

Inflections: mugged, mugging

Derived words: mugful (noun), muggee (noun)

Origin & Etymology of Mug

origin unknown

First known use: 1664

Words & Phrases Containing Mug

mug's game, mug shot, mug up, a mug's game

Frequently Asked Questions about Mug

What does "Mug" mean?

"Mug" means a cylindrical drinking cup. As an a noun and a verb, it is defined as: a cylindrical drinking cup. It has 9 distinct senses.

What is another word for "Mug"?

Other words for "Mug" include cup, bully, gangbanger, gangsta, gangster, goon, gorilla and hood. The best synonym depends on which meaning of "Mug" you intend.

What are different ways to say "Mug"?

There are 254 words and phrases with a similar meaning to "Mug". Common alternatives include cup, bully, gangbanger, gangsta, gangster, goon, gorilla, hood, hoodlum and hooligan.

What is a slang word for "Mug"?

Slang words for "Mug" include kisser, pan, puss, piehole, trap and yap.

What is the opposite of "Mug"?

Antonyms of "Mug" include brain and genius. Near antonyms include grin, laugh, smile and cheat.

How do you use "Mug" in a sentence?

Examples of "Mug" in a sentence: "a coffee mug"; "just a bunch of mugs with no respect for anyone, not even themselves"; "she joked about not having to see his ugly mug anymore".

Is "Mug" a noun, verb, or adjective?

"Mug" can be used as a noun and a verb, depending on the context.

How do you pronounce "Mug"?

"Mug" is pronounced /ˈməg/.