as in bandit
old-fashioned
a violent criminal who is not afraid of getting hurt or caught
A documentary about some notorious desperados of the Wild West.
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Recent Examples of desperado
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
Still, the robbery sent an Oklahoma sheriff’s posse and bloodhounds after these bungling desperados.
—Mara Bovsun, New York Daily News, 8 Mar. 2025
Martín Ramírez’s large Caballero features a magnificent desperado pointing his gun as his almost-hieroglyphic horse rears its head — a brilliant universal altarpiece.
—Jerry Saltz, Vulture, 30 Oct. 2024
The true story of the formerly enslaved man who became the first Black deputy U.S. marshal comes to life on Lawmen: Bass Reeves, an eight-episode series starring David Oyelowo as the storied gunslinger who arrested some 3,000 desperados without ever suffering a single wound.
—EW.com, 5 Nov. 2023
See All Example Sentences for desperado
Frank Rizzo, Variety, 27 Apr. 2025
Still, the robbery sent an Oklahoma sheriff’s posse and bloodhounds after these bungling desperados.
—Mara Bovsun, New York Daily News, 8 Mar. 2025
Martín Ramírez’s large Caballero features a magnificent desperado pointing his gun as his almost-hieroglyphic horse rears its head — a brilliant universal altarpiece.
—Jerry Saltz, Vulture, 30 Oct. 2024
The true story of the formerly enslaved man who became the first Black deputy U.S. marshal comes to life on Lawmen: Bass Reeves, an eight-episode series starring David Oyelowo as the storied gunslinger who arrested some 3,000 desperados without ever suffering a single wound.
—EW.com, 5 Nov. 2023
See All Example Sentences for desperado
Recent Examples of Synonyms for desperado
Noun
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Police arrested one of four snowball bandits caught on camera clobbering the cops with snow.—
Leonard Greene,
New York Daily News,
28 Feb. 2026
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These proposals reflect hardening congressional sentiment toward Abuja at a moment when jihadist and bandit violence has impacted millions across the region.—
Adrian Elimian,
semafor.com,
25 Feb. 2026
Noun
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Neville includes a clip from a London play about The Beatles that bore the unwieldy title John, Paul, George, Ringo…and Bert, featured some very bad wigs and makeup and, in keeping with the official story, cast McCartney as the villain.—
Sheri Linden,
HollywoodReporter,
25 Feb. 2026
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Hollywood did end up telling that story, with Ben Foster portraying the actor as a villain in the 2015 movie The Program, which Armstrong was not a part of.—
Justin Kroll,
Deadline,
25 Feb. 2026
Noun
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Responding officers placed both offenders into custody.—
Jeramie Bizzle,
CBS News,
28 Feb. 2026
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Almost one month after Guthrie’s kidnapping, little remains publicly known about the offender (or offenders) who abducted the 84-year-old woman.—
Victoria Bekiempis,
Vulture,
26 Feb. 2026
Noun
-
The Longhorns took the lead on a monster 466-foot shot to left field by Aiden Robbins, who plunked his shot off the train stationed high above the left field wall at Daikin Park.—
David Eckert,
Austin American Statesman,
28 Feb. 2026
-
Her feelings transformed her to become a monster, an inhuman creature.—
Destiny Jackson,
Deadline,
27 Feb. 2026
Noun
-
The beast — being, of course, the entertainment news cycle — never sleeps.—
Ryan Lattanzio,
IndieWire,
27 Feb. 2026
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Lauren Groff produces rough beasts that slouch off in unexpected directions and spawn.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
26 Feb. 2026
Noun
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And America's armed forces overwhelmed all defenses and utterly defeated an enemy -- good fighters -- to end the reign of outlaw dictator Nicolas Maduro and bring him to face American justice.—
February 25,
NPR,
25 Feb. 2026
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Season two of Robin Hood expands the world beyond Sherwood and Nottingham into the treacherous courts of England, France, and Rome, transforming the outlaw rebellion into a high stakes battle for the soul of a kingdom.—
Max Goldbart,
Deadline,
24 Feb. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Desperado.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/desperado. Accessed 3 Mar. 2026.
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