1
as in teams
a group of people working together on a task
a gang of neighborhood residents spent the weekend cleaning up the park
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
2
as in cliques
a group of people sharing a common interest and relating together socially
the whole gang went out for pizza the school's computer hackers had their own little gang
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
3
as in Mafias
a group involved in secret or criminal activities
politicians promising to stop the growth of inner-city gangs
Synonyms & Similar Words
Example Sentences
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
Read More
Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors.
Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of gangs
Jacqueline Charles, Miami Herald, 17 June 2026
Eaton testified that the men were involved in rival gangs — G-Mobb in south Sacramento, Garden Blocc Crips in North Sacramento and others that have battled over the decades — and crossed paths with deadly consequences at 10th and K streets.
—Darrell Smith, Sacbee.com, 15 June 2026
Rival gangs smuggling cocaine from neighboring Colombia and Peru to North America and Europe battle for control of coastal hubs — including Manta.
—Foreign Correspondent, Los Angeles Times, 15 June 2026
No group has claimed responsibility but attacks by armed gangs have increased in recent months.
—ABC News, 13 June 2026
The group gradually accrued more power and territory from within Tocorón Prison, and Tren de Aragua began to ally with other criminal gangs to expand its influence.
—Uriel Blanco, CNN Money, 13 June 2026
He was known as a pugnacious investigator who had dismantled some of the country’s most violent gangs.
—Heidi Blake, New Yorker, 8 June 2026
Noun
Indeed, despite the appearance of calm, gangs were actively battling for territory in parts of the capital during the visit.
—Jacqueline Charles, Miami Herald, 17 June 2026
Eaton testified that the men were involved in rival gangs — G-Mobb in south Sacramento, Garden Blocc Crips in North Sacramento and others that have battled over the decades — and crossed paths with deadly consequences at 10th and K streets.
—Darrell Smith, Sacbee.com, 15 June 2026
Rival gangs smuggling cocaine from neighboring Colombia and Peru to North America and Europe battle for control of coastal hubs — including Manta.
—Foreign Correspondent, Los Angeles Times, 15 June 2026
No group has claimed responsibility but attacks by armed gangs have increased in recent months.
—ABC News, 13 June 2026
The group gradually accrued more power and territory from within Tocorón Prison, and Tren de Aragua began to ally with other criminal gangs to expand its influence.
—Uriel Blanco, CNN Money, 13 June 2026
He was known as a pugnacious investigator who had dismantled some of the country’s most violent gangs.
—Heidi Blake, New Yorker, 8 June 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for gangs
Noun
-
The ball was flying out of the park early and often, as the two teams combined for five total homers in the contest.—
Staff Report,
Twin Cities,
21 June 2026
-
The lopsided defeat spoke loudly to those who believe that tourney’s expansion from 32 to 48 teams was folly.—
Blair Kerkhoff,
Kansas City Star,
21 June 2026
Noun
-
Under Meza, player cliques developed, stars were pampered, discipline waned.—
Scott M. Reid,
Oc Register,
10 June 2026
-
Prosecutors said the killings were tied to Mara Salvatrucha, or MS-13, a transnational gang that maintains a presence in Los Angeles through smaller groups, or cliques, including in the San Fernando Valley and around MacArthur Park.—
Sydney Barragan,
Daily News,
6 June 2026
Noun
-
Alongside that, South Africa’s police force has been embroiled in scandal, accused of corruption and collusion with criminal syndicates.—
Michelle Gumede,
Los Angeles Times,
13 June 2026
-
Applying terrorism designations to criminal syndicates, Brazilian officials say, conflicts with domestic legal definitions and risks blurring distinctions underpinning international counterterrorism law.—
Antonio María Delgado,
Miami Herald,
1 June 2026
Verb
-
That advantage was in large part offset by payments from UEFA’s ‘value pillar’, a mechanism which awards clubs money based upon their coefficient ranking (determined by past performance in European competition) and the size of their nation’s broadcast rights deal for the competition.—
Chris Weatherspoon,
New York Times,
30 May 2026
-
Their top-30 visits, where NFL clubs host prospects at their facilities to gather further intel, are often smokescreens.—
Luca Evans,
Denver Post,
19 Apr. 2026
Noun
-
The route then reaches Mount Tabor, where the prophetess Deborah sang her song of victory, and continues to Megiddo, the site of numerous battles involving the armies of Israel and invading forces throughout biblical history, before ending in Nazareth, the hometown of Jesus.—
Amelie Botbol,
FOXNews.com,
17 June 2026
-
In Ukraine, tanks—the backbone of 20th-century armies—have become sitting ducks for drones.—
Nancy A. Youssef,
The Atlantic,
17 June 2026
Noun
-
Pan is banking on the tactic to win the Democrat-leaning 6th Congressional District, which under newly redrawn lines includes West Sacramento, Roseville, Rocklin and communities north and east of Sacramento.—
Mathew Miranda,
Sacbee.com,
17 June 2026
-
Aquarius rules communities, friendships, technology, social structures and the future, while Pluto retrograde turns the energy inward.—
Valerie Mesa,
PEOPLE,
17 June 2026
Noun
-
The event consists of live music, competition events such as highland dancing and sheepdog trials, food vendors and educational classes on what Scottish clans are.—
Carlos Rico,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
8 June 2026
-
Publishers Coolabi Group and Chinese online giant Tencent Video have greenlit the series, adapted from Erin Hunter’s novels about battling clans of feral cats, which have sold more than 90 million copies worldwide.—
Scott Roxborough,
HollywoodReporter,
1 June 2026
Verb
-
The incident occurred on Saturday evening, May 23, at the Driftwood Grill in Summerton, NBC affiliates WIS and WYFF, Fox affiliate WJW, CBS affiliate WLTX and The Post and Courier reported.—
David Chiu,
PEOPLE,
25 May 2026
Cite this Entry
“Gangs.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/gangs. Accessed 21 Jun. 2026.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
