yakuza

noun

ya·ku·za ˈyä-ku̇-ˌzä

plural yakuza

: a Japanese gangster

: an organized crime syndicate in Japan

Examples of yakuza in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web Ichiban Kasuga, possibly the sweetest, most well-meaning former yakuza to grace any piece of fiction (video games or otherwise), doesn’t question each increasingly silly plot twist or insane mini-game, but throws himself into the action with willing, naïve abandon. —

Lewis Gordon, Vulture, 5 June 2024 The question of the season is: Can the supposedly incorruptible Katagiri stay clean under enormous pressure and the yakuza’s threats towards his family? —

Scott Feinberg, The Hollywood Reporter, 6 May 2024 Katagiri previously tried to maintain a delicate peace between the different yakuza factions, but the arrival of detective Shoko Negate (Miki Maya) heralds a new, aggressive stance by the police to end the yakuza’s choke hold on the city. —

Scott Feinberg, The Hollywood Reporter, 6 May 2024 Actually, Sato is not always safe in his yakuza family, Chihara-Kai. —

Demetrius Patterson, The Hollywood Reporter, 8 Apr. 2024 See all Example Sentences for yakuza

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'yakuza.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.