as in gangster
a violent, brutal person who is often a member of an organized gang
the Mob boss regularly sent his thugs after people who were slow to pay their debts
Synonyms & Similar Words
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Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of thug
Peace isn’t easy to come by, though the motorcycle thugs who swing by to bully the locals and squeeze money out of the businesses don’t offer much resistance.
—
Tim Grierson, Vulture, 15 Aug. 2025
Some people are thugs for life.
—Sean Neumann, People.com, 14 Aug. 2025
Hutch screams at thugs during a four-on-one melee, and the irony is only flesh-wound deep.
—David Fear, Rolling Stone, 14 Aug. 2025
As the ship prepared to leave port, the G men arrived, handcuffed the thug and dragged him away.
—Howie Carr, Boston Herald, 13 Aug. 2025
See All Example Sentences for thug
Tim Grierson, Vulture, 15 Aug. 2025
Some people are thugs for life.
—Sean Neumann, People.com, 14 Aug. 2025
Hutch screams at thugs during a four-on-one melee, and the irony is only flesh-wound deep.
—David Fear, Rolling Stone, 14 Aug. 2025
As the ship prepared to leave port, the G men arrived, handcuffed the thug and dragged him away.
—Howie Carr, Boston Herald, 13 Aug. 2025
See All Example Sentences for thug
Recent Examples of Synonyms for thug
Noun
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There’s also a tropical storm circulating, as if the gangsters flew in from the tropics.—
John Metcalfe,
Mercury News,
12 Sep. 2025
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Others are new, building on a genuinely fresh and funny revelation that explains not only a cold open involving yakuza gangsters half a world away in Osaka, but also why this quaint town is sitting on a stash of weaponry big enough to overthrow the governments of several small nations.—
Katie Rife,
IndieWire,
9 Sep. 2025
Noun
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Our research suggests that the vast majority of Republican voters want to close loopholes that allow criminals and dangerous people to get their hands on guns.—
Gabby Giffords,
Time,
11 Sep. 2025
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The days of letting dangerous criminals terrorize American citizens are over.—
Dan Gooding,
MSNBC Newsweek,
11 Sep. 2025
Noun
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Because the traits that make someone a hero in a story can easily lend themselves to being painted as a villain, too.—
Harmeet Kaur,
CNN Money,
13 Sep. 2025
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Jane Fonda and Lily Tomlin play estranged old friends who reconnect at the funeral of a mutual friend, only to realize that their friend's dead husband was really the villain in all their lives.—
PC Magazine,
PC Magazine,
12 Sep. 2025
Noun
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The prominent conservative influencer Charlie Kirk was struck in the neck by an assassin’s bullet.—
W. James Antle III,
The Washington Examiner,
12 Sep. 2025
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The search for Kirk’s assassin entered its third day Friday, with officials releasing new still photos of the person of interest, along with video of the person fleeing the scene after the shooting.—
Filip Timotija,
The Hill,
12 Sep. 2025
Noun
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Over $200 Off NFL Sunday Ticket NFL fans can make out like bandits with the DraftKings Sportsbook welcome offer.—
Tyler Everett,
MSNBC Newsweek,
7 Sep. 2025
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Joe Pesci and Daniel Stern were cast as the bumbling but dogged bandits, Harry and Marv, and Catherine O’Hara brought humor and compassion to the part of Kevin’s mother.—
Tim Greiving,
Vulture,
3 Sep. 2025
Noun
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The idea that new technology can flip the odds of catching a thief or recovering a child feels like progress.—
Jennifer Jolly,
USA Today,
14 Sep. 2025
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Overall last year, nighttime thefts of copper wiring along RTD disrupted train service 21 times between April and October, with thieves escaping with metal worth about $110,000.—
John Aguilar,
Denver Post,
12 Sep. 2025
Noun
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Whereas the Star Wars sequels woefully misused the actor's talents, this movie puts them center stage, playing one of the teen hoodlums who join forces with their victim to fight off nasty, otherworldly invaders.—
Chris Snellgrove,
EW.com,
12 Aug. 2025
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However, hoodlums and thugs who throw objects at the players give up their rights and should be removed, charged, and possibly jailed.—
Kate Plummer,
MSNBC Newsweek,
7 Aug. 2025
Noun
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The structure is similar to how pirates and privateers once attacked foreign enemies at sea on behalf of their government.—
Rick Bennett,
Time,
17 Sep. 2025
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The boy dressed as a pirate will be standing at a full-length floor mirror getting ready for Halloween.—
Brady MacDonald,
Oc Register,
16 Sep. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Thug.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/thug. Accessed 18 Sep. 2025.
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