GUNSEL Synonyms: 43 Similar and Opposite Words

gunsel

noun

Definition of gunsel

slang

as in racketeer

Related Words

Relevance

Dissimilar Words

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 gunsel Generally, Complaining About The Cost is the first page of the playbook for politicians under investigation by special counsels, and for their gunsels and mouthpieces as well. — Charles P. Pierce, Esquire, 5 Dec. 2017

Recent Examples of Synonyms for gunsel

Noun

Of course, entrusting waste management to gangsters and racketeers has repercussions.

— Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 8 July 2026
Ferro pleaded guilty in October 2025 to conspiracy to participate in a racketeer influenced and corrupt organization.

— Marc Ramirez, USA Today, 8 May 2026

Definition of racketeer

Noun

Bobby is open to a partnership with Italian mobster Marco Moretti (Sergio Castellitto) and his unhinged liaison Cico Maldini (Michele Morrone).

— Aramide Tinubu, Variety, 3 Sep. 2026
Working titled Jaq, the show will shoot next year and is part of a wider expansion of the Top Boy universe, with Barry Keoghan returning as Irish mobster Jonny McGee in prequel Jonny Boy.

— Jake Kanter, Deadline, 2 Sep. 2026

Definition of mobster

Noun

Also in his orbit are a consortium of crooks, including his cousin Freddie, a hip junkie, and Pepper, a taciturn hoodlum who was friends with Ray’s dad, Big Mike, a legendary thief.

— Niela Orr, Vulture, 20 July 2026
In the past decade, the leadership of the Kinahan organization has become rich and cosmopolitan, and their life styles have started to resemble those of international businessmen more than of street hoodlums.

— Ed Caesar, New Yorker, 30 Apr. 2026

Definition of hoodlum

Noun

On a cold night in November 2011, in a field outside Kharkiv in northeastern Ukraine, a gang of thugs stormed a Soviet scientific research institute, beat and humiliated the staff and burned the place to the ground.

— Scott Roxborough, HollywoodReporter, 8 Sep. 2026
Meanwhile, Kyle and his usual pair of special-forces thugs track down a suspiciously large plane (as in, big enough to fly across the Atlantic) and an equally suspicious flight manifest.

— Andy Andersen, Vulture, 6 Sep. 2026

Definition of thug

Noun

With some knowingly polite smiles, John navigates an awkward, potentially racist interaction at a local gun store while purchasing a sniper scope (sans gun) to spy on Macon’s compound from a nearby tower.

— Siddhant Adlakha, Vulture, 7 Sep. 2026
The specialist said the research failed to prove that large-caliber guns could reliably defeat drone swarms.

— Aamir Khollam, Interesting Engineering, 7 Sep. 2026

Definition of gun

Noun

The alleged triggerman was not — John Gurino was gunned down in a 2003 dispute with a Boca Raton deli owner.

— Rafael Olmeda, Sun Sentinel, 5 July 2026
Broadnax, who was tried as the triggerman, was sentenced to death, while Cummings, who was tried as his accomplice, was sentenced to life in prison without the possibility of parole.

— Jamie Landers, Dallas Morning News, 8 Apr. 2026

Definition of triggerman

Noun

There are no villains in Possible Love; there are only people who are aware of others, and people who are not.

— Bilge Ebiri, Vulture, 6 Sep. 2026
The former Democratic speaker was the longtime villain, a mainstay in ads as Republicans linked Democratic candidates to her to paint them as radical and out of touch.

— James A. Downs, The Washington Examiner, 6 Sep. 2026

Definition of villain

Browse Nearby Words

guns

gunsel

gunsels

See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

Style

“Gunsel.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/gunsel. Accessed 13 Sep. 2026.

Copy Citation

Synonyms of gunsel

noun

Example Sentences

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

More from Merriam-Webster

Word of the Day

shofar

Popular in Grammar & Usage

Merriam-Webster’s Great Big List of Words You Love to Hate

A Who’s Who Regarding ‘Who’s’ and ‘Whose’

Why do we use apostrophes to show possession?

Is it 'nerve-racking' or 'nerve-wracking'?

What's the difference between 'fascism' and 'socialism'?

Popular in Wordplay

9 Words That Sound Like Insults But Aren't

Back to School Vocabulary

Words from the 'Odyssey'

Ye Olde Nincompoop: Old-Fashioned Words for 'Stupid'

14 Phobias You Probably Haven't Heard Of

Popular

Merriam-Webster’s Great Big List of Words You Love to Hate

9 Words That Sound Like Insults But Aren't

Back to School Vocabulary

Games & Quizzes