as in thug
a violent, brutal person who is often a member of an organized gang
the loan shark sent a couple of gorillas to "convince" him to pay up
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Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of gorilla
Congrats are in order for Fatou, who is celebrating her 69th birthday and holding onto her title as the oldest gorilla in human care in the world.
—
Saman Shafiq, USA Today, 14 Apr. 2026
Fatou has lost her teeth, experiences arthritis and hearing loss and generally avoids interaction with other gorillas.
—Hanna Wickes, Charlotte Observer, 13 Apr. 2026
Her daily routine is managed with attention to her comfort and well-being, reflecting the close bond between the gorilla and the team that looks after her.
—Hanna Wickes, Kansas City Star, 13 Apr. 2026
That’s exactly how the world’s oldest gorilla celebrated her big day, and the story behind her remarkable life is one the whole family can marvel at together.
—Hanna Wickes, Miami Herald, 13 Apr. 2026
See All Example Sentences for gorilla
Saman Shafiq, USA Today, 14 Apr. 2026
Fatou has lost her teeth, experiences arthritis and hearing loss and generally avoids interaction with other gorillas.
—Hanna Wickes, Charlotte Observer, 13 Apr. 2026
Her daily routine is managed with attention to her comfort and well-being, reflecting the close bond between the gorilla and the team that looks after her.
—Hanna Wickes, Kansas City Star, 13 Apr. 2026
That’s exactly how the world’s oldest gorilla celebrated her big day, and the story behind her remarkable life is one the whole family can marvel at together.
—Hanna Wickes, Miami Herald, 13 Apr. 2026
See All Example Sentences for gorilla
Recent Examples of Synonyms for gorilla
Noun
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He’s beaten by thugs with a crowbar for an unfortunate outburst, exploited by neighbors in the council estate and arrested, all because people don’t understand Tourette syndrome.—
Katie Walsh,
Boston Herald,
24 Apr. 2026
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Mayor vows to catch 'thugs who did this' Baton Rouge Mayor Sid Edwards promised that law enforcement will catch the people responsible for the violence at the mall.—
Amanda Lee Myers,
USA Today,
23 Apr. 2026
Noun
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The horror film, which is directed by James Watkins, will track the origins of the shape-shifting villain, played by Tom Rhys Harries.—
Giana Levy,
Variety,
22 Apr. 2026
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But what makes this situation so hard is that there’s no obvious villain and no dramatic fallout (which, in some ways, would almost be easier to deal with).—
Jenna Ryu,
SELF,
22 Apr. 2026
Noun
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Williams hadn’t qualified but jumped in as a bandit – a practice that is prohibited now but happened more regularly back then (although it was frowned upon).—
Lori Riley,
Hartford Courant,
19 Apr. 2026
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An unusual theft at a Pennsylvania Wawa has police going bananas for a pair of potassium bandits.—
Fernando Cervantes Jr,
USA Today,
8 Apr. 2026
Noun
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Centered on the filmmaker’s brother, a Chinese gangster living in Spain, the debut feature offers a rare immersion into a world more frequently explored through fiction than documentary.—
Lise Pedersen,
Variety,
24 Apr. 2026
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McKenzie, a former gangster who spent seven years in prison, was once a spinner and his ministry has promoted the sport in recent years.—
Semafor Staff,
semafor.com,
24 Apr. 2026
Noun
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Many of the toughest criminals taken into ICE custody were already in prison, but many others who were arrested have no criminal history.—
ABC News,
ABC News,
25 Apr. 2026
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In the furthest part of space lies Dante 01, a detention facility that houses criminals who have committed the most shocking crimes imaginable.—
Sergio Pereira,
Space.com,
25 Apr. 2026
Noun
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And why was the would-be assassin’s body cremated so quickly without an autopsy?—
Voice of the People,
New York Daily News,
25 Apr. 2026
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Caine’s movie comes after Ana de Armas starred in last year’s Ballerina, the first non-Wick standalone title in the franchise, about a young Ruska Roma assassin seeking vengeance for her father.—
Glenn Garner,
Deadline,
25 Apr. 2026
Noun
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And some influencers say the new clip from Supergirl was good — Kara on a space-bus full of aliens who get attacked by pirates, with a Guardians of the Galaxy vibe.—
James Hibberd,
HollywoodReporter,
17 Apr. 2026
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And to know that their daughter was brutally killed by pirates?—
Maggie Fremont,
Vulture,
17 Apr. 2026
Noun
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Cops have released a trove of footage from the massive car meetup that created havoc in a quiet Queens neighborhood — and are asking the public’s help identifying the people involved, including a trio who jumped on the hood of a responding police car.—
Roni Jacobson,
New York Daily News,
20 Apr. 2026
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There is, however, a nice hood vent and a lovely skylight.—
Katie McDonough,
Curbed,
20 Apr. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Gorilla.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/gorilla. Accessed 26 Apr. 2026.
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