as in thug
a violent, brutal person who is often a member of an organized gang
Al Capone remains one of the most notorious gangsters in American history
Synonyms & Similar Words
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Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of gangster
Or downtown was too unsafe, during the gangster era.
—
Jared Kaufman, Twin Cities, 11 Jan. 2026
Beset by gangs and guns, the Haçienda faltered in the ’90s despite clever-sounding schemes such as replacing the club’s security with the gangsters themselves.
—Boris Kachka, The Atlantic, 9 Jan. 2026
The gangsters grew powerful running liquor during Prohibition.
—Don Sweeney, Sacbee.com, 6 Jan. 2026
Lord, that sounds like gangsters, don’t it.
—David Searcy, Harpers Magazine, 30 Dec. 2025
See All Example Sentences for gangster
Jared Kaufman, Twin Cities, 11 Jan. 2026
Beset by gangs and guns, the Haçienda faltered in the ’90s despite clever-sounding schemes such as replacing the club’s security with the gangsters themselves.
—Boris Kachka, The Atlantic, 9 Jan. 2026
The gangsters grew powerful running liquor during Prohibition.
—Don Sweeney, Sacbee.com, 6 Jan. 2026
Lord, that sounds like gangsters, don’t it.
—David Searcy, Harpers Magazine, 30 Dec. 2025
See All Example Sentences for gangster
Recent Examples of Synonyms for gangster
Noun
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Actively inserting yourself into and attempting to stymie federal law enforcement or barging into a church, as some of these thugs did in Minneapolis, is hindering law enforcement and trespassing, respectively.—
Voice of the People,
New York Daily News,
22 Jan. 2026
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And then some thug comes along and knocks him over.—
Adrienne LaFrance,
The Atlantic,
22 Jan. 2026
Noun
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In a news release announcing the signature petition, backers of the measure featured quotes from prominent Colorado and national Democrats supporting deporting violent criminals, though none have apparently endorsed this specific measure.—
Nick Coltrain,
Denver Post,
24 Jan. 2026
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This is the justification for the administration’s desire to deport criminals, persons who have truly harmed others by breaking laws.—
Scott Santarosa,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
23 Jan. 2026
Noun
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Picking winners and losers, heroes and villains, pathways to success and failure, generates excitement for an event and manufactures a sense of urgency for maximal viewing pleasure.—
Brady Brickner-Wood,
New Yorker,
28 Jan. 2026
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What the late Ka did to build resolve against the unforgiving brutalities of Brownsville, Marci combines with the flair of a Bond villain and contempt for anyone attempting to copy his mold.—
Dylan Green,
Pitchfork,
28 Jan. 2026
Noun
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There can be no doubt that in tax terms, America’s wealthiest families make out like bandits.—
Business Columnist,
Los Angeles Times,
8 Jan. 2026
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The robbery lasted less than seven minutes, as the bandits used a truck with an extendable ladder to cut through a window on a second-floor balcony, according to police.—
Mason Leath,
ABC News,
27 Dec. 2025
Noun
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Based on the novel by Stephen King, The Running Man is a dystopian sci-fi movie about a reality TV show where contestants, known as Runners, must survive 30 days while being hunted by professional assassins.—
Erik Kain,
Forbes.com,
23 Jan. 2026
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Kirk's alleged assassin was in court last week, where his attorneys argued that the entire prosecution team should be disqualified.—
Peter D'Abrosca,
FOXNews.com,
18 Jan. 2026
Noun
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From Sweet Sue’s big opening song to the train ride west to hopping over the border to Mexico and back, the characters have to navigate love, life, and high heels while mobsters and feds surround them.—
Jed Gottlieb,
Boston Herald,
20 Jan. 2026
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On the mobster as a character and a political entity.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
2 Jan. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Gangster.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/gangster. Accessed 30 Jan. 2026.
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