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
-
Corridos have long been used to tell stories in Mexico, sometimes recounting the exploits of bandits and outlaws.—
Kate Linthicum,
Los Angeles Times,
11 May 2025
-
After listening in on the meeting, Nanette offers to help identify the bandits using Kabir’s complaint log.—
Ben Rosenstock,
Vulture,
11 Apr. 2025
Noun
-
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
-
The sybaritic highwayman Macheath maneuvers between a cutthroat capitalist milieu (Mr. and Mrs. Peachum) and a corrupt police force (led by Tiger Brown) while seducing daughters from both worlds (Polly Peachum and Lucy Brown).—
Alex Ross,
New Yorker,
14 Apr. 2025
Noun
-
Overcoming the first son, the group continues their journey only to face down one after another, each with his own gimmick: The pirate son with his sea-creature half-men minions, for instance; a band of hunters with their own, even deadlier werewolf.—
Erik Kain,
Forbes.com,
17 May 2025
-
Smuggler’s Copter is obviously a very famous card in Magic history, but also just the flavor of Smuggler’s Copter being, in the original set, for a pair of sky pirates.—
Jennifer Maas,
Variety,
16 May 2025
Noun
-
By the way, none of us is a criminal, as hacking is not a crime.—
Davey Winder,
Forbes.com,
19 May 2025
-
Manson was a petty criminal who had been in and out of jail since childhood.—
Stephanie Nolasco,
FOXNews.com,
18 May 2025
Noun
-
Sandra Oh, the daughter of South Korean immigrant parents, follows British agent Eve Polastri charged with catching the elusive and ruthless assassin Villanelle (Jodie Comer).—
Lesley O'Toole,
Variety,
9 May 2025
-
The film premieres June 6, and Keanu Reeves will be showing up to lock horns with the titular assassin.—
Michileen Martin,
MSNBC Newsweek,
7 May 2025
Noun
-
And her new single is a duet with another, even more hirsute outlaw traditionalist, Jamey Johnson.—
David Browne,
Rolling Stone,
13 May 2025
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Holloway, best known for his role as Lost antihero Sawyer, would make the perfect complement: a glowering outlaw with a sweet soul.—
Judy Berman,
Time,
12 May 2025
Noun
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Brown faces an additional count as well for allegedly being a felon in possession of a gun.—
Chris Spargo,
People.com,
20 May 2025
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The governor's office said Tate also was charged with theft of a motor vehicle and was sentenced in federal court for being a felon in possession of a firearm.—
N'dea Yancey-Bragg,
USA Today,
20 May 2025
Noun
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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
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Still, the robbery sent an Oklahoma sheriff’s posse and bloodhounds after these bungling desperados.—
Mara Bovsun,
New York Daily News,
8 Mar. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Brigand.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/brigand. Accessed 27 May. 2025.
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