hoodlum

noun

ˈhüd-ləm How to pronounce hoodlum (audio)
Definition of hoodlumnext
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 But as Duterte’s father, Vicente, had increasingly gravitated toward Malacañang, his son hung out with the family bodyguards—and crafted the persona of a rough-talking bugoy, or hoodlum, in his native Bisayan tongue. — Sean Williams, Harpers Magazine, 27 Jan. 2026 These involve raiding the lairs of hoodlum rivals, then singlehandedly dissuading them from competition. — Dennis Harvey, Variety, 28 Oct. 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
  1. thug
  2. gangster
  3. criminal
  4. villain
  5. bandit
  6. thief
Noun
  • The residents occasionally gather in a disused rec center but the meetings devolve into rants about immigrants, junkies, thugs and vigilantism.
    — Jessica Kiang, Variety, 26 Sep. 2026
  • That a Christian man was responsible for the devastation in Oklahoma City certainly didn’t matter to the thugs who terrorized a Muslim woman there, nearly seven months pregnant, by attacking her home, breaking her windows, screaming religious slurs.
    — Reshma Memon Yaqub, Rolling Stone, 11 Sep. 2026
Definition of thug
Noun
  • Somebody like Gilroy or Jeff Kober and Barry Corbin (popping up occasionally as a pair of geriatric gangsters) will come and go in situations knowingly designed to feel contrived.
    — Daniel Fienberg, HollywoodReporter, 23 Sep. 2026
  • Though Pachinko featured more angels than demons, Lee still convincingly inhabited Koh Hansu, the gangster and groomer.
    — Sanjena Sathian, Vulture, 22 Sep. 2026
Definition of gangster
Noun
  • The Financial Action Task Force, the global money-laundering watchdog, has warned that criminals exploit citizenship and residency programs to conceal their identities, launder illicit wealth and evade justice.
    — Arkansas Online, Arkansas Online, 3 Oct. 2026
  • The real risk is that a criminal could forge your signature on a deed or trick you into signing paperwork that transfers ownership, then file that document with the local office that maintains property records.
    — Kurt Knutsson, FOXNews.com, 3 Oct. 2026
Definition of criminal
Noun
  • Tell me more about William, the actual villain, and what his character represents.
    — Selome Hailu, Variety, 3 Oct. 2026
  • Despite Nas emerging as one of the season’s primary antagonists, Kelly doesn’t necessarily view him as a straightforward villain.
    — Lexi Carson, HollywoodReporter, 2 Oct. 2026
Definition of villain
Noun
  • They are huddled together around the camera, looking like a bizarre collection of bandits.
    — Kyle Maclachlan, HollywoodReporter, 29 Sep. 2026
  • Elsewhere, a gang of highway bandits cons an unsuspecting family into stopping by the roadside, only to violently kill them, burn their bodies, and strip their car for parts.
    — Siddhant Adlakha, IndieWire, 17 Sep. 2026
Definition of bandit
Noun
  • Adams and Mourtgos, however, didn't examine Flock's effect on break-ins, where thieves steal belongings from parked cars.
    — Greg Rosalsky, NPR, 2 Oct. 2026
  • Supply-chain chaos for tech and freight companies, and a big payday for thieves.
    — Sasha Rogelberg, Fortune, 1 Oct. 2026
Definition of thief

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hoodlum
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Cite this Entry

“Hoodlum.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/hoodlum. Accessed 6 Oct. 2026.

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