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
Synonyms & Similar Words
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Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of gorilla
In Africa, infection has been documented through the handling of infected fruit bats, monkeys, chimpanzees, gorillas, forest antelope and porcupines found ill or dead in the rainforest.
—
Janet Loehrke, USA Today, 2 June 2026
The day after the birth, Olympia was reunited with her troop and, hours later, her baby was introduced to the other gorillas.
—Erin Clack, PEOPLE, 31 May 2026
Olympia, a gorilla housed at Woodland Park Zoo in Seattle, in her habitat prior to her pregnancy.
—Tim Stelloh, NBC news, 27 May 2026
Two years ago, a baby gorilla named Jameela was born at the Fort Worth Zoo via emergency cesarean section.
—Madison Sawyer, CBS News, 21 May 2026
See All Example Sentences for gorilla
Janet Loehrke, USA Today, 2 June 2026
The day after the birth, Olympia was reunited with her troop and, hours later, her baby was introduced to the other gorillas.
—Erin Clack, PEOPLE, 31 May 2026
Olympia, a gorilla housed at Woodland Park Zoo in Seattle, in her habitat prior to her pregnancy.
—Tim Stelloh, NBC news, 27 May 2026
Two years ago, a baby gorilla named Jameela was born at the Fort Worth Zoo via emergency cesarean section.
—Madison Sawyer, CBS News, 21 May 2026
See All Example Sentences for gorilla
Recent Examples of Synonyms for gorilla
Noun
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The actions of these thugs, who should be imprisoned for a long while, is the cause of denying real Knicks fans the chance to watch the game communally.—
Voice of the People,
New York Daily News,
10 June 2026
-
People have committed suicide because a bunch of thugs went after them.—
NBC news,
NBC news,
7 June 2026
Noun
-
Her bone-chilling performance earned her the MTV Movie Award for best villain, beating out the likes of Daniel Day-Lewis, Mike Myers, Willem Dafoe and Colin Farrell in her category.—
Patrick Ryan,
USA Today,
17 June 2026
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This was my villain origin story.—
Lauryn Overhultz,
FOXNews.com,
17 June 2026
Noun
-
Re-blockade will now happen at bandit camps and ruins.—
Paul Tassi,
Forbes.com,
22 May 2026
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And what gives her purpose is meeting Ruthye, who’s also endured tragedy, and wants to avenge her family’s death at the hands of the bandit Krem of the Yellow Hills (Matthias Schoenaerts).—
Kate Aurthur,
Variety,
20 May 2026
Noun
-
Neither immigrant family should be linked to violent gangsters, of course.—
Chicago Tribune,
Chicago Tribune,
13 June 2026
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By telling a relatively straightforward story that blends real people from the era of the Gotti Mafia family with imagined characters, Martin Scorsese's dramedy biopic about a kid who falls in love with the gangster life is as even-keeled as anything the director has made.—
Eric Farwell,
Entertainment Weekly,
12 June 2026
Noun
-
An allegation last year by a provincial police commander that top officers and officials were colluding with organized criminals led Ramaphosa to announce a national investigation into police corruption.—
Michelle Gumede,
Los Angeles Times,
13 June 2026
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Roman emperors, sometimes urged on by the crowd, were known to grant pardons (to criminals) and freedom (to the enslaved) after an especially noteworthy performance.—
Cullen Murphy,
The Atlantic,
13 June 2026
Noun
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Swedish investigators said the shooter was no professional assassin – but another teenage boy who had been recruited to kill.—
ABC News,
ABC News,
12 June 2026
-
The queen would go on to become the longest-serving British monarch of all time—surpassing 70 years on the throne before her death in 2022—while Jackie’s time as first lady was cut short by an assassin’s bullet on November 22, 1963, not yet three years into her tenure.—
Rachel Burchfield,
InStyle,
11 June 2026
Noun
-
From pirate treasure hunts that send kids racing around the resort with maps and clues to a sandcastle concierge stocked with shovels, pails, and tools for building elaborate beach creations, the property makes family vacations feel surprisingly stress-free.—
Alexandra Emanuelli,
Southern Living,
12 June 2026
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Tweens and teens can also try knot-tying, help raise the sails, play pirate games, and visit the bridge.—
Ashlea Halpern,
Condé Nast Traveler,
11 June 2026
Noun
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The officers cuffed the survivors with plastic restraints, placed hoods on their heads and demanded that no one speak, according to the fishermen.—
Foreign Correspondent,
Los Angeles Times,
15 June 2026
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Elsewhere in Times Square, officers moved in after a crowd began damaging a parked school bus, tearing off part of its hood, CNN’s Mark Morales reported.—
Alaa Elassar,
CNN Money,
14 June 2026
Cite this Entry
“Gorilla.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/gorilla. Accessed 19 Jun. 2026.
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