as in bandit
formal + old-fashioned
a person who commits robbery usually as part of a group
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Recent Examples of brigand
Looking eastward, the notion that Iran, which took hundreds of thousands of casualties in repelling an Iraqi juggernaut in the 1980s, is going to melt in terror in the face of several thousand ISIS brigands is absurd.
—
Steven Simon, Foreign Affairs, 26 Aug. 2014
Captured by brigands, the immigrants are herded into a remote Libyan prison camp where they are tormented and tortured.
—Peter Rainer, The Christian Science Monitor, 22 Feb. 2024
Saúl is a brigand while Isabella is a noblewoman, and the tale tells of the couple’s struggle as their families oppose their union.
—Rebecca Ann Hughes, Forbes, 10 Aug. 2022
Scavenger is a brigand Gawain encounters on his journey.
—BostonGlobe.com, 30 July 2021
The ruler tops out at seven feet six inches, suggesting an absolutely colossal brigand.
—Peter Schjeldahl, The New Yorker, 22 Feb. 2021
Across the pastures, gangs of grandchildren ran like brigands.
—Stanley Stewart, Condé Nast Traveler, 12 Oct. 2019
As Robin Hood, Daniel Reese creates a flesh-and-blood version of the storybook character, imbuing the Middle Ages brigand with a conscience for the poor and some humorous frailties.
—Pam Kragen, sandiegouniontribune.com, 31 July 2017
Traveling by road even a few dozen miles outside the city can be a dicey proposition because of insurgents and brigands.
—David Jolly, New York Times, 17 Feb. 2016
Steven Simon, Foreign Affairs, 26 Aug. 2014
Captured by brigands, the immigrants are herded into a remote Libyan prison camp where they are tormented and tortured.
—Peter Rainer, The Christian Science Monitor, 22 Feb. 2024
Saúl is a brigand while Isabella is a noblewoman, and the tale tells of the couple’s struggle as their families oppose their union.
—Rebecca Ann Hughes, Forbes, 10 Aug. 2022
Scavenger is a brigand Gawain encounters on his journey.
—BostonGlobe.com, 30 July 2021
The ruler tops out at seven feet six inches, suggesting an absolutely colossal brigand.
—Peter Schjeldahl, The New Yorker, 22 Feb. 2021
Across the pastures, gangs of grandchildren ran like brigands.
—Stanley Stewart, Condé Nast Traveler, 12 Oct. 2019
As Robin Hood, Daniel Reese creates a flesh-and-blood version of the storybook character, imbuing the Middle Ages brigand with a conscience for the poor and some humorous frailties.
—Pam Kragen, sandiegouniontribune.com, 31 July 2017
Traveling by road even a few dozen miles outside the city can be a dicey proposition because of insurgents and brigands.
—David Jolly, New York Times, 17 Feb. 2016
Recent Examples of Synonyms for brigand
Noun
-
To make matters even worse, snow pirates, survivalists, bandits, the colonial military force NEVEC, and other factions are fighting over land and resources.—
Fran Ruiz,
Space.com,
27 June 2025
-
But the project is also right at home for Laika, as it’s set in a secret forest just outside of Laika’s home in Portland and follows a girl whose baby brother is taken into the forest, only to discover an exotic world of talking animals and bandits.—
Brian Welk,
IndieWire,
25 June 2025
Noun
-
He is captured by Bedouin highwaymen, who plan to rob him.—
Steve Hindy,
Foreign Affairs,
27 Aug. 2015
-
Shortly before midnight on May 23, 1798, highwaymen just north of Dublin intercepted and set on fire a mail coach headed to Belfast.—
Joseph Patrick Kelly,
The Conversation,
20 May 2025
Noun
-
However, the very same ruling condemned Anthropic for its alternative sourcing method: using pirate websites.—
Douglas B. Laney,
Forbes.com,
29 June 2025
-
To make matters even worse, snow pirates, survivalists, bandits, the colonial military force NEVEC, and other factions are fighting over land and resources.—
Fran Ruiz,
Space.com,
27 June 2025
Noun
-
According to his campaign website, some of his goals include increasing police presence, protecting undocumented immigrants but deporting violent criminals, taxing the rich, and eliminating waste.—
Emily Chang,
ABC News,
24 June 2025
-
As crypto holders become increasingly savvy online, criminals start resorting to physical attacks.—
Marie Poteriaieva,
Forbes.com,
24 June 2025
Noun
-
In the twilight of her career, Parker still showed flashes of the once baby-haired assassin who shook up the WNBA.—
Anthony De Leon,
Los Angeles Times,
29 June 2025
-
The Day of the Jackal follows a professional British assassin called the Jackal (Eddie Redmayne), known only for his ruthless and mysterious methods, and Bianca Pullman (Lashana Lynch), an MI6 agent intent on hunting him down.—
Ryan Fleming,
Deadline,
19 June 2025
Noun
-
The tale follows an environmentalist princes and an outlaw, tackling themes of consumerism, bombs, love and royalty, among others.—
Rachel Raposas,
People.com,
20 June 2025
-
The band came together fast last year, after Neil’s amazing spring tour with his old outlaw pals in Crazy Horse.—
Rob Sheffield,
Rolling Stone,
13 June 2025
Noun
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The suspect was wanted on charges of unlawful possession of a firearm by a felon through the ATF in the Northern District of Texas, the Dallas County Sheriff’s Department and the Mississippi Department of Correction.—
Shambhavi Rimal,
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
25 June 2025
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Prosecutors said Gonzalez also was convicted of being a felon in possession of a gun.—
Rosalio Ahumada,
Sacbee.com,
24 June 2025
Noun
-
The latter implies that occasionally a few or many desperados enter the Treasury markets, selling everything in sight with an eye on bringing discipline or whatever to Washington.—
John Tamny,
Forbes.com,
25 May 2025
-
The other actors in the terrific eight-member cast — which includes Eddie Cooper, Dashiell Eaves and Ken Marks — play multiple roles as townsfolk, family members, lawmen, desperados, hucksters and suckers.—
Frank Rizzo,
Variety,
27 Apr. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Brigand.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/brigand. Accessed 7 Jul. 2025.
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