Muggings refer to a violent crime in which a person is robbed or attacked in the street. There are several synonyms that can be used to describe this type of crime, including assault, robbery, holdup, burglary, and theft. Assault is a physical attack on someone, while robbery is the theft of property with violence or threats. A holdup is a robbery in which a person is held hostage until demands are met. Burglary is the illegal entry into a building with intent to steal. Finally, theft is the act of taking something without permission or payment. These are all different words that can be used instead of muggings to describe violent crimes.