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
The next day, a pair of Russian gangsters, a tall one named Aleksei (Yuri Kolokolnikov) and a short one nicknamed Microbe (Nikita Kukushkin), come by looking for Russ and beat Hank nearly to death.
—
Richard Brody, New Yorker, 28 Aug. 2025
Colin Farrell earned raves, along with his first career Emmy nod, for playing Gotham gangster Oz Cobb on HBO’s The Penguin.
—Dave Nemetz, TVLine, 27 Aug. 2025
In 1970s Detroit, an ex-con is out for revenge after being framed by a gangster for loving the wrong woman.
—Scott Roxborough, HollywoodReporter, 26 Aug. 2025
Here, James plays a respected gangster Frank Moses.
—EW.com, 24 Aug. 2025
See All Example Sentences for gangster
Richard Brody, New Yorker, 28 Aug. 2025
Colin Farrell earned raves, along with his first career Emmy nod, for playing Gotham gangster Oz Cobb on HBO’s The Penguin.
—Dave Nemetz, TVLine, 27 Aug. 2025
In 1970s Detroit, an ex-con is out for revenge after being framed by a gangster for loving the wrong woman.
—Scott Roxborough, HollywoodReporter, 26 Aug. 2025
Here, James plays a respected gangster Frank Moses.
—EW.com, 24 Aug. 2025
See All Example Sentences for gangster
Recent Examples of Synonyms for gangster
Noun
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As night falls, armed thugs roam the streets and families pick up guns to protect themselves.—
Oren Liebermann,
CNN Money,
24 Aug. 2025
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Digging and cutting back garden thugs is often necessary to preserve what grows on your side of the fence.—
Brandee Gruener,
Southern Living,
22 Aug. 2025
Noun
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Together, the unlikely duo take down criminals around the country.—
Lauren Huff,
EW.com,
27 Aug. 2025
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Wang Wei sets out on a rampage, confronting both the corrupt police and the criminals.—
Sara Merican,
Deadline,
27 Aug. 2025
Noun
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Sexism and who gets labeled as the 'villain' Love triangles can also lead to vilifying the central love interest.—
Alyssa Goldberg,
USA Today,
29 Aug. 2025
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Neal McDonough, who starred as one of the villain Beck brothers, previously told Collider that his character's vague ending could mean a potential return in one of Sheridan's spin-off series.—
Janelle Ash,
FOXNews.com,
29 Aug. 2025
Noun
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Are there ways that notorious bandits have successfully robbed banks?—
Lance Eliot,
Forbes.com,
29 Aug. 2025
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Swashbucklers, scoundrels, bandits and buccaneers will soon be bellying up to the bar inside a lively new pirate pub at Walt Disney World that’s already booked solid for the first two months and promises to be a must-have reservation for visitors.—
Brady MacDonald,
Oc Register,
29 Aug. 2025
Noun
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With the help of an unpredictable assassin named Louie (Butler, who also plays the Pope), the pair embark on a dark and murderous journey to steal and authenticate the priceless work.—
Nada Aboul Kheir,
Deadline,
3 Sep. 2025
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The two Kill Bill films, while still about crime and criminals and ninja assassins, set themselves apart from his earlier works.—
Erik Kain,
Forbes.com,
1 Sep. 2025
Noun
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And, may God eternally bless them, there are the Drucker brothers, Lipa (Liev Schreiber) and Schmully (Vincent D’Onofrio), the homicidal Hasidic mobsters who still make time to visit their bubbe on the way to a massacre.—
David Fear,
Rolling Stone,
28 Aug. 2025
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And Aronofsky does not skimp on the nightmarish aspects of bloodthirsty mobsters chasing you through the city.—
Bill Goodykoontz,
AZCentral.com,
27 Aug. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Gangster.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/gangster. Accessed 6 Sep. 2025.
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