mug
1 of 3noun
ˈməg 
1
: a cylindrical drinking cup
2
a
: the face or mouth of a person
b
: grimace
c
: mug shot
3
a chiefly British
(1)
: fool, blockhead
(2)
: a person easily deceived
b
: punk, thug
mugful
ˈməg-ˌfu̇l
noun mug
2 of 3verb (1)
mugged; mugging
intransitive verb
: to pose or make faces especially to attract attention or for a camera
transitive verb
: photograph
mug
3 of 3verb (2)
mugged; mugging
transitive verb
1
: to assault usually with intent to rob
2
: to attack suddenly
got mugged in the press by his colleagues
muggee
ˌmə-ˈgē
noun 
Synonyms
Noun
- cup
Verb (1)
- grimace
- mouth
See all Synonyms & Antonyms 
Example Sentences
Noun a collection of coffee mugs He drank a mug of coffee. They're taking you for a mug.
Recent Examples on the Web
Kaitlyn Keegan, Hartford Courant, 25 Aug. 2022 The small one is just the right size to be placed on the edge of their mug, and the larger design is for their teapot. Monique Valeris, Good Housekeeping, 9 Aug. 2022 Fans leave the tavern experience with their own souvenir mug, after downing complimentary glowing drinks. Ryan Fish, The Hollywood Reporter, 22 July 2022 The interactive aspect of the Game of Thrones Studio Tour doesn’t disappoint with visitors able to shoot arrows at the army of the dead, add your mug to the Hall of Faces and create your own sigil or seal. John Benson, cleveland, 19 June 2022 Matenopoulous joked, as Vieira pretended to toss a drink at Behar with her empty mug. Alexis Jones, PEOPLE.com, 17 June 2022 New products will include a Hello Kitty Cafe glass mug with a sprinkle handle; a Hello Kitty Cafe lunchbox; a Hello Kitty Cafe lavender T-shirt; and a Hello Kitty Cafe canvas tote. Hannah Kirby, Journal Sentinel, 6 July 2022 Team Good and their clue-mercial package included a mug with Miley Cyrus in the state of Montana, a tic-tac-toe board, a sweet southern beverage and a Golden State driver's license. Dana Rose Falcone, PEOPLE.com, 30 Mar. 2022 While at Honey Made, a small local boutique, Mr. Biden spoke to reporters and bought some souvenirs – including a mug with Vice President Kamala Harris on it, which sold out three hours after the president took one home. Caitlin O'kane, CBS News, 27 Jan. 2022 See More
Noun
The Harpoon Beer Hall on New England Avenue has some new favorites this year to go with your mug of beer. Kaitlyn Keegan, Hartford Courant, 25 Aug. 2022 The small one is just the right size to be placed on the edge of their mug, and the larger design is for their teapot. Monique Valeris, Good Housekeeping, 9 Aug. 2022 Fans leave the tavern experience with their own souvenir mug, after downing complimentary glowing drinks. Ryan Fish, The Hollywood Reporter, 22 July 2022 The interactive aspect of the Game of Thrones Studio Tour doesn’t disappoint with visitors able to shoot arrows at the army of the dead, add your mug to the Hall of Faces and create your own sigil or seal. John Benson, cleveland, 19 June 2022 Matenopoulous joked, as Vieira pretended to toss a drink at Behar with her empty mug. Alexis Jones, PEOPLE.com, 17 June 2022 New products will include a Hello Kitty Cafe glass mug with a sprinkle handle; a Hello Kitty Cafe lunchbox; a Hello Kitty Cafe lavender T-shirt; and a Hello Kitty Cafe canvas tote. Hannah Kirby, Journal Sentinel, 6 July 2022 Team Good and their clue-mercial package included a mug with Miley Cyrus in the state of Montana, a tic-tac-toe board, a sweet southern beverage and a Golden State driver's license. Dana Rose Falcone, PEOPLE.com, 30 Mar. 2022 While at Honey Made, a small local boutique, Mr. Biden spoke to reporters and bought some souvenirs – including a mug with Vice President Kamala Harris on it, which sold out three hours after the president took one home. Caitlin O'kane, CBS News, 27 Jan. 2022 See More Word History
Etymology
Noun
origin unknown
Verb (2)
probably from earlier mug to strike in the face, perhaps from mug entry 1
First Known Use
Noun
1664, in the meaning defined at sense 1
Verb (1)
1855, in the meaning defined at intransitive sense
Verb (2)
circa 1864, in the meaning defined at sense 1
Phrases Containing mug
Kids Definition
mug
noun
ˈməg
: a large drinking cup with a handle
Legal Definition
mug
transitive verb
mugged; mugging
: to assault (an individual) usually with intent to rob
mug 1 of 2
noun
1
as in cup
a round vessel equipped with a handle and designed for drinking a coffee mug Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
- cup
- goblet
- tankard
- stein
- beaker
- chalice
- teacup
- demitasse
- noggin
- blackjack
2
as in thug
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 Synonyms & Similar Words
- thug
- villain
- gorilla
- hood
- pirate
- criminal
- bandit
- offender
- gangster
- assassin
- thief
- goon
- plug-ugly
- ruffian
- hooligan
- gangsta
- tough
- roughneck
- gangbanger
- hoodlum
- rowdy
- perpetrator
- mobster
- bully
- scoundrel
- yob
- toughie
- robber
- perp
- toughy
- punk
- yobbo
- crook
- lawbreaker
- felon
- desperado
- cutthroat
- vandal
- outlaw
- brigand
- racketeer
- gunman
- highwayman
- pickpocket
- malefactor
- mafioso
- swindler
- bravo
- juvenile delinquent
- tearaway
3
as in face
the front part of the head she joked about not having to see his ugly mug anymore Synonyms & Similar Words
- face
- pan
- visage
- puss
- countenance
- looks
- appearance
- features
- kisser
- presence
- expression
- aspect
- mien
- lineaments
- physiognomy
4
as in mouth
the opening through which food passes into the body of an animal keep your mug shut and listen up Synonyms & Similar Words
- mouth
- gob
- chops
- face
- trap
- visage
- kisser
- jaws
- yap
- muzzle
- puss
- piehole
- countenance
- gullet
- mandible
- maw
- maxilla
5
as in scowl
a twisting of the facial features in disgust or disapproval an involuntary mug at the revolting sight Synonyms & Similar Words
- scowl
- grimace
- mouth
- frown
- pout
- face
- smirk
- lower
- look
- snoot
- moue
- stare
- growl
- mow
- sneer
- snarl
- lour
- wince
- glare
- squinch
- glower
- flinch
- rictus
- scoff
- simper
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
- smile
- grin
- laugh
6
as in sucker
chiefly British one who is easily deceived or cheated the cardsharp was always on the lookout for a new mug Synonyms & Similar Words
- sucker
- tool
- victim
- pigeon
- patsy
- chump
- gull
- target
- soft touch
- sap
- loser
- monkey
- dupe
- butt
- pushover
- fool
- turkey
- mock
- goose
- cat's-paw
- idiot
- dumbbell
- dope
- schlemiel
- booby
- moron
- dummy
- jackass
- mockery
- mark
- lunatic
- nincompoop
- dolt
- blockhead
- laughingstock
- derision
- dunce
- simp
- nitwit
- simpleton
- shlemiel
- schnook
- imbecile
- yo-yo
- ninny
- schlump
- dodo
- half-wit
- shlub
- schlub
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
- shark
- cheater
- dodger
- sharper
- confidence man
- trickster
- slicker
- cheat
- swindler
- cozener
- defrauder
- hoaxer
7
as in idiot
chiefly British a stupid person what kind of mug goes out in the rain without his brolly or a mackintosh? Synonyms & Similar Words
- idiot
- moron
- dummy
- stupid
- mutt
- turkey
- noodle
- goose
- pinhead
- loser
- dip
- dumbbell
- prat
- donkey
- dope
- noddy
- fathead
- stock
- chowderhead
- knucklehead
- golem
- lunkhead
- goon
- lump
- dim bulb
- numskull
- natural
- stupe
- saphead
- cretin
- dolt
- lunatic
- fool
- chucklehead
- hammerhead
- meathead
- dumbhead
- yahoo
- blockhead
- oaf
- villain
- bonehead
- bubblehead
- jackass
- loon
- woodenhead
- goof
- cuddy
- schnook
- loggerhead
- dullard
- dork
- clunk
- clodpole
- hardhead
- dunce
- birdbrain
- dunderhead
- jerk
- gander
- nincompoop
- doofus
- clodpoll
- mome
- ignoramus
- imbecile
- dummkopf
- dimwit
- clown
- airhead
- ratbag
- lamebrain
- cuddie
- skunk
- numbskull
- dumb cluck
- simpleton
- nitwit
- cluck
- nimrod
- thickhead
- snake
- dum-dum
- shlub
- schlub
- ninny
- yo-yo
- nut
- ninnyhammer
- dodo
- deadhead
- clot
- nit
- booby
- buffoon
- half-wit
- know-nothing
- madman
- loony
- heel
- zany
- gawk
- creep
- cad
- featherbrain
- stinker
- beast
- cur
- scatterbrain
- boor
- churl
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
- brain
- genius
- sage
- wizard
- thinker
- intellect
- intellectual
- whiz
- sharpie
- polymath
- sharpy
- Renaissance man
mug
2 of 2verb
1
as in to grimace
to distort one's face every time their picture was snapped, both children mugged by sticking out their tongues or scrunching up their faces Synonyms & Similar Words
- grimace
- scowl
- mouth
- frown
- stare
- smirk
- sneer
- make faces
- glare
- make a face
- pull a face
- pout
- growl
- glower
- gaze
- snarl
- ogle
- warp
- twist
- contort
- lour
- deform
- gape
- gloom
- lower
- simper
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
- smile
- beam
- grin
2
as in to photograph
to take a photograph of mugging captured criminals for the police records Synonyms & Similar Words
- photograph
- photo
- picture
- snap
- film
- image
- shoot
- rephotograph
- videotape
- retake