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
Forget about 100 men vs one gorilla — what about three teenage boys vs one middle-aged comedian?
—
Ew Staff December 5, Entertainment Weekly, 5 Dec. 2025
There is something charming, though, about seeing what is clearly just a man in a gorilla suit be played so straightforward and earnestly like a special effect.
—James Grebey, Vulture, 1 Dec. 2025
The rate typically includes meals, some beverages, and daily activities, but does not include gorilla trekking permits (about $700 per person) or porter fees.
—Natalie Preddie, Travel + Leisure, 24 Nov. 2025
Kabarebe said that since 2018 the militias had staged dozens of attacks in the parks where the gorillas live.
—Jon Lee Anderson, New Yorker, 24 Nov. 2025
See All Example Sentences for gorilla
Ew Staff December 5, Entertainment Weekly, 5 Dec. 2025
There is something charming, though, about seeing what is clearly just a man in a gorilla suit be played so straightforward and earnestly like a special effect.
—James Grebey, Vulture, 1 Dec. 2025
The rate typically includes meals, some beverages, and daily activities, but does not include gorilla trekking permits (about $700 per person) or porter fees.
—Natalie Preddie, Travel + Leisure, 24 Nov. 2025
Kabarebe said that since 2018 the militias had staged dozens of attacks in the parks where the gorillas live.
—Jon Lee Anderson, New Yorker, 24 Nov. 2025
See All Example Sentences for gorilla
Recent Examples of Synonyms for gorilla
Noun
-
Again, Maduro is a socialist thug.—
The Editorial Board,
Oc Register,
6 Jan. 2026
-
This is the underworld that Michlewitz and the rest of his thug pals come out of, and will protect at all costs.—
Howie Carr,
Boston Herald,
20 Dec. 2025
Noun
-
Sorkin finds no heroes but also no villains.—
The Know,
Denver Post,
11 Jan. 2026
-
But what Ole Miss has had to deal with is beyond the norm, with Kiffin in the villain’s role.—
Miami Herald,
Miami Herald,
9 Jan. 2026
Noun
-
There can be no doubt that in tax terms, America’s wealthiest families make out like bandits.—
Business Columnist,
Los Angeles Times,
8 Jan. 2026
-
The robbery lasted less than seven minutes, as the bandits used a truck with an extendable ladder to cut through a window on a second-floor balcony, according to police.—
Mason Leath,
ABC News,
27 Dec. 2025
Noun
-
Stumpy the gangster, Bev the Mormon.—
Chris Willman,
Variety,
9 Nov. 2025
-
Metrotone Media’s Katharina Gellein Viken, meanwhile, revealed a new micro-drama in the works, a mockumentary about the making of a low-budget British gangster flick.—
Stewart Clarke,
Deadline,
7 Nov. 2025
Noun
-
The first thing to do is to reduce the damage to the United States, the inflow of guns and criminals and immigrants and drugs into the United States, the destabilizing of a key part of the Western Hemisphere.—
CBS News,
CBS News,
11 Jan. 2026
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Also, place freezes with ChexSystems and the National Consumer Telecom and Utilities Exchange to stop criminals from opening bank accounts, phone lines, or utility services in his name.—
Kurt Knutsson,
FOXNews.com,
11 Jan. 2026
Noun
-
Though detectives conclude that assassin cult members Ash (Jon Pointing) and Dee Dee (Maeve Courtier-Lilley) were the ones who killed Aaron, Paige revealed that the real killer was Ingrid.—
Emily Blackwood,
PEOPLE,
5 Jan. 2026
-
Maduro is being held in the same federal jail in Brooklyn as accused assassin Luigi Mangione.—
Michael Ruiz , Maria Paronich , Brendan McDonald,
FOXNews.com,
5 Jan. 2026
Noun
-
These oil fields basically are pirate operations.—
ABC News,
ABC News,
4 Jan. 2026
-
Notorious pirate Jean Lafitte frequented neighboring Grand Terre Island in the early 1800s.—
Kristy Christiansen,
Southern Living,
31 Dec. 2025
Noun
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Some people even shared old photos of Indigenous peoples wearing the hoods, noting that the originators of the design kept the fur outward to break cold wind and trap snow.—
Rachel Raposas,
PEOPLE,
9 Jan. 2026
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The company says its solution allows solar panels to be integrated directly into the hood, bonnet, and roof of a vehicle.—
Neetika Walter,
Interesting Engineering,
9 Jan. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Gorilla.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/gorilla. Accessed 12 Jan. 2026.
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