Thesaurus results for HOODLUM

hoodlum

noun

ˈhüd-ləm

Definition of hoodlum

as in thug

a violent, brutal person who is often a member of an organized gang a couple of hoodlums held up the convenience store

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 hoodlum These involve raiding the lairs of hoodlum rivals, then singlehandedly dissuading them from competition. — Dennis Harvey, Variety, 28 Oct. 2025 Aleah and Grasso end up saving Lizzie’s ass and capturing the hoodlums. — Grace Byron, Vulture, 22 Sep. 2025 However, hoodlums and thugs who throw objects at the players give up their rights and should be removed, charged, and possibly jailed. — Kate Plummer, MSNBC Newsweek, 7 Aug. 2025 Somehow, that makes the notion of hoodlums stopping by to order Shnack Wrapz and Cheezecake Shakez and then pillage our neighorhoods seem even more unlikely. — Neal Rubin, Freep.com, 19 Jan. 2025 See All Example Sentences for hoodlum

Recent Examples of Synonyms for hoodlum

Noun

Threatening to limit mail-in voting, adding ridiculous ID requirements, or staging thugs at polling places are other possible ways to convince you to stay home.

— Sun Sentinel Editorial Board, Sun Sentinel, 6 July 2026
To be sure, the thugs of Hamas and Hezbollah committed a horrific massacre of young Jewish civilians enjoying a music festival on October 7, 2023.

— DP Opinion, Denver Post, 6 July 2026

Definition of thug

Noun

Madonna was stopped dead in her tracks by the strapping 30-year-old auteur of the nouvelle vague gangster movie Lock, Stock and Two Smoking Barrels, an eye-popping directorial debut.

— Hamish Bowles, Vogue, 5 July 2026
Yet Francis Ford Coppola's original sprawling gangster epic is undeniable.

— Brian Truitt, USA Today, 1 July 2026

Definition of gangster

Noun

Data that appears to be compliance information to a regulator can appear to be a target list to a criminal.

— Susie Violet Ward, Forbes.com, 2 July 2026
The Colorado attorney general oversees more than 700 attorneys and staff and manages legal manners spanning consumer protection, civil rights, criminal, water, constitutional and environmental law.

— Jesse Sarles, CBS News, 1 July 2026

Definition of criminal

Noun

There are probably easier ways to mount a crime thriller steeped in gritty realism than centering it on a villain made of gas.

— Patrick Brzeski, HollywoodReporter, 6 July 2026
That doesn’t mean Netherlands players are villains, or anything less than heroes for their country.

— AJ Willingham, AJC.com, 6 July 2026

Definition of villain

Noun

Instead, most are romantic stories about young lovers separated by fate, and the rest are swashbuckling adventures full of bandits and pirates.

— Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 30 June 2026
Fantastical adventures ensue as the pair encounter a mysterious woman, Alexandra, who has lost her son, along with coyotes, bandits, and some pretty big secrets.

— Jennifer Ouellette, ArsTechnica, 29 June 2026

Definition of bandit

Noun

Elsewhere in France’s southwest region, yet another museum fell victim to thieves, who made off this time with archaeological treasures in silver and gold from the Gallic and Roman period, reports Le Journal des Arts.

— Devorah Lauter, ARTnews.com, 6 July 2026
When a thief opens an account with your SSN, birthdate and address, canceling the account only fixes part of the problem.

— Kurt Knutsson, FOXNews.com, 4 July 2026

Definition of thief

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“Hoodlum.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/hoodlum. Accessed 12 Jul. 2026.

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Synonyms of hoodlum

noun

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