Thesaurus results for GANGSTERS

gangsters

noun

plural of gangster

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

Synonyms & Similar Words

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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 gangsters Together, the grimy pair start riding the rails across the country, watching movies starring Frank’s favorite actor, Ronnie Reed (Jake Gyllenhaal), and somehow sparking a feminist plot to overthrow the kinds of mean gangsters who killed Ida in the first place. —

David Sims, The Atlantic, 6 Mar. 2026 After a career defined by playing gangsters, an avenging taxi driver and a paranoid prize fighter, the Oscar-winning actor recited a call for civility, as first spoken by Abraham Lincoln. —

Hillel Italie, Chicago Tribune, 4 Mar. 2026 Absinthe-eyed, she projectile-vomits blunt observations and also oysters onto the heavies, overimbibing her way into her own grave once she’s inevitably discarded with a shot and shove down a stairwell (a barely-there John Magaro plays one of the gangsters). —

Ryan Lattanzio, IndieWire, 4 Mar. 2026 When Martin gets blackmailed by gangsters, the pair knock off a mafia henchman and plunge themselves deep into the Australian underworld, all while trying to keep their business afloat. —

David Faris, TheWeek, 4 Mar. 2026 After a career defined by playing gangsters, an avenging taxi driver and a paranoid prize fighter, Robert De Niro will be issuing a call for civility, as first spoken by Abraham Lincoln. —

ABC News, 3 Mar. 2026 In retaliation, gangsters took to the streets to light vehicles and businesses on fire, carjack cars and buses, and cause mayhem across multiple states. —

Frederick Melo, Twin Cities, 23 Feb. 2026 Now, all Addison can tell us is that the show begins with two young Dubliners who are looking for treasure and are on the run from gangsters. —

Max Goldbart, Deadline, 22 Feb. 2026 But all good things come to those who wait as Disney/Lucasfilm just released the second trailer for the latest chapter in the galaxy far, far away and it's packed with an absolute menagerie of aliens, robots, creatures, droids, and monsters, including those vile crimelord gangsters, the Hutts. —

Jeff Spry, Space.com, 17 Feb. 2026

Recent Examples of Synonyms for gangsters

Noun

The Democrats, though, have no problems releasing all these bloodthirsty thugs back into the neighborhood.

— Howie Carr, Boston Herald, 4 Mar. 2026
In a season 3 teaser, Peter saves Suraj Sharma's Jay Batra from some thugs at a soccer stadium.

— Randall Colburn, Entertainment Weekly, 19 Feb. 2026