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
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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
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
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Also, consider how much more cash her thug husband’s company, Conan Harris & Associates, will be raking in if the Democrats regain control of the House next year.—
Howie Carr,
Boston Herald,
5 Dec. 2025
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No single step would have a greater effect on the Venezuelan military, intelligence services, and police than removing Diosdado Cabello, the regime’s chief thug, who is currently serving as interior minister and thus controls the police.—
Elliott Abrams,
Foreign Affairs,
20 Nov. 2025
Noun
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With her crude French and slightly out-of-place mannerisms, Patricia is the young, beautiful American expatriate drawn to this wannabe gangster who idolizes Humphrey Bogart and yet seems so quintessentially French.—
Bilge Ebiri,
Vulture,
4 Dec. 2025
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Back in New York, following Marty’s unimaginable defeat in London, Abel Ferrara appears as a scuzzy street-level gangster who entrusts Marty and his taxi-driving best friend Wally (Tyler Okonma) with his near feral dog.—
Peter Debruge,
Variety,
1 Dec. 2025
Noun
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These people are vital to the Florida economy, yet they are being rounded up like criminals.—
Sun Sentinel Editorial Board,
Sun Sentinel,
20 Aug. 2025
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The criminals are watching and waiting for the next soft target.—
Emil Sayegh,
Forbes.com,
20 Aug. 2025
Noun
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Clutching a mysterious tool the shape of a mouse coffin, Firth’s villain tracks Daniel’s location by mentally transplanting himself into another person’s body, changing the color of their pupils to his own icy blue.—
Amy Nicholson,
Los Angeles Times,
10 June 2026
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Will Victor Wembanyama continue his villain turn at MSG?—
Andrew Greif,
NBC news,
10 June 2026
Noun
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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
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In Qing Dynasty-era China, a renowned warrior, Li Mu Bai (Chow Yun-Fat), tries to track down the bandit who ambushed Yu Shu Lien (Michelle Yeoh) and made off with Li Mu Bai’s Green Destiny sword.—
David Faris,
TheWeek,
20 May 2026
Noun
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In February, police in the suburbs formed a task force to target thieves who had been targeting video gambling machines, wielding crowbars and sledgehammers to break into the machines to steal cash.—
Todd Feurer,
CBS News,
10 June 2026
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In December 2025, thieves in Massachusetts stole a truck stuffed with $400,000 in lobster meat bound for Costco stores in Illinois and Minnesota.—
Thao Nguyen,
USA Today,
9 June 2026
Cite this Entry
“Hoodlum.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/hoodlum. Accessed 17 Jun. 2026.
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