as in thugs
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
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Recent Examples of gangsters
Others are new, building on a genuinely fresh and funny revelation that explains not only a cold open involving yakuza gangsters half a world away in Osaka, but also why this quaint town is sitting on a stash of weaponry big enough to overthrow the governments of several small nations.
—
Katie Rife, IndieWire, 9 Sep. 2025
Inspired by the colonial Singapore gangsters rulers, four girls, at a modern-day regimented elite secondary school form their own gang cam-recording petty acts of rebellion, led by firebrand freethinking lesbian Choo Xin Yu.
—Marta Balaga, Variety, 7 Sep. 2025
Roman is later gunned down by Hasidic gangsters Lipa (Liev Schreiber) and Shmully (Vincent D’Onofrio), who take Hank hostage.
—Patrick Ryan, USA Today, 31 Aug. 2025
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
The government sees us as criminals and gangsters.
—Tommy Trenchard, NPR, 23 Aug. 2025
An hour ago, the stocky British actor best known on these shores for playing tough guys and gangsters was on a morning talk show, after having chatted with Jimmy Fallon the previous evening.
—David Fear, Rolling Stone, 22 Mar. 2025
Plus, the coffers of gangsters will rise.
—Walter E Block, Orange County Register, 22 Mar. 2025
But just as the gangsters put their faith in the would-be hitman to carry out the plot, their lawyers turned to him for a defense.
—Karl Vick, TIME, 21 Mar. 2025
Katie Rife, IndieWire, 9 Sep. 2025
Inspired by the colonial Singapore gangsters rulers, four girls, at a modern-day regimented elite secondary school form their own gang cam-recording petty acts of rebellion, led by firebrand freethinking lesbian Choo Xin Yu.
—Marta Balaga, Variety, 7 Sep. 2025
Roman is later gunned down by Hasidic gangsters Lipa (Liev Schreiber) and Shmully (Vincent D’Onofrio), who take Hank hostage.
—Patrick Ryan, USA Today, 31 Aug. 2025
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
The government sees us as criminals and gangsters.
—Tommy Trenchard, NPR, 23 Aug. 2025
An hour ago, the stocky British actor best known on these shores for playing tough guys and gangsters was on a morning talk show, after having chatted with Jimmy Fallon the previous evening.
—David Fear, Rolling Stone, 22 Mar. 2025
Plus, the coffers of gangsters will rise.
—Walter E Block, Orange County Register, 22 Mar. 2025
But just as the gangsters put their faith in the would-be hitman to carry out the plot, their lawyers turned to him for a defense.
—Karl Vick, TIME, 21 Mar. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for gangsters
Noun
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Their neighbor, an older Jewish woman, gets arrested and Nazi thugs brazenly loot her apartment.—
Rabih Alameddine
September 2,
Literary Hub,
2 Sep. 2025
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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
Noun
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Lawmakers in many states have changed the rules in recent decades to protect winners from being targeted by criminals and unscrupulous people asking for money.—
Safiyah Riddle,
Chicago Tribune,
6 Sep. 2025
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Her Eco-Age consultancy, targeted by criminals and forced to close in 2024 after 17 years in business, had advised clients on industry developments, changes to government policies and practical guidance on how to avoid greenwashing.—
Luisa Zargani,
Footwear News,
6 Sep. 2025
Noun
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There are villains in every episode and the story uses them to showcase some societal issues.—
Joan MacDonald,
Forbes.com,
6 Sep. 2025
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Eugene Domingo stars as Mauricia, a disrespected restaurant worker who, while watching soap operas one night, gets sucked through her TV screen into a training academy for villains.—
PC Magazine,
PC Magazine,
5 Sep. 2025
Noun
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Over $200 Off NFL Sunday Ticket NFL fans can make out like bandits with the DraftKings Sportsbook welcome offer.—
Tyler Everett,
MSNBC Newsweek,
7 Sep. 2025
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Joe Pesci and Daniel Stern were cast as the bumbling but dogged bandits, Harry and Marv, and Catherine O’Hara brought humor and compassion to the part of Kevin’s mother.—
Tim Greiving,
Vulture,
3 Sep. 2025
Noun
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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
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By adopting a policy of assassinating assassins, Israel sought international legitimacy, and perhaps even the quiet approval of some Lebanese.—
Lynn Zovighian,
MSNBC Newsweek,
4 Aug. 2025
Noun
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In the 1970s, The Texas Chain Saw Massacre was famously funded by mobsters, leading to years of legal drama.—
Gary Baum,
HollywoodReporter,
3 Sep. 2025
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Their investigation plunges them into the shadowy corners of New York and beyond—where the trio uncovers a dangerous web of secrets connecting powerful billionaires, old-school mobsters, and the mysterious residents of the Arconia.—
Jessica Radloff,
Glamour,
1 Sep. 2025
Noun
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For decades, the characters in science-fiction movies and TV shows who traveled on spaceships tended to be scientists, explorers, diplomats, soldiers, and pirates.—
Noel Murray,
Vulture,
3 Sep. 2025
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Off the coast between Somalia and Yemen, the ship was attacked by pirates, and passengers were told to wait on Deck 5 as the captain sped up the ship.—
Kathleen Wong,
USA Today,
2 Sep. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Gangsters.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/gangsters. Accessed 10 Sep. 2025.
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