as in thug
a violent, brutal person who is often a member of an organized gang
London bobbies clearing the streets of hooligans
Synonyms & Similar Words
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Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of hooligan
Listen to this article Two headphone-snatching hooligans are being sought for robbing seven people in a weeklong spree in lower Manhattan and Staten Island, police said Thursday.
—
Thomas Tracy, New York Daily News, 20 Feb. 2025
These hooligans have been depicted and glamourised in cult British films Green Street and The Football Factory.
—Roshane Thomas, The Athletic, 13 Feb. 2025
After desecrating a sacred temple, some hooligans must face the supernatural consequences of their hate crime.
—Matt Grobar, Deadline, 22 Jan. 2025
Even hooligans were amenable to police dialogue.
—Alfredo Sosa, The Christian Science Monitor, 13 Jan. 2025
See All Example Sentences for hooligan
Thomas Tracy, New York Daily News, 20 Feb. 2025
These hooligans have been depicted and glamourised in cult British films Green Street and The Football Factory.
—Roshane Thomas, The Athletic, 13 Feb. 2025
After desecrating a sacred temple, some hooligans must face the supernatural consequences of their hate crime.
—Matt Grobar, Deadline, 22 Jan. 2025
Even hooligans were amenable to police dialogue.
—Alfredo Sosa, The Christian Science Monitor, 13 Jan. 2025
See All Example Sentences for hooligan
Recent Examples of Synonyms for hooligan
Noun
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The story focuses on two figures, a school principal and a thug.—
Nabih Bulos,
Los Angeles Times,
28 Apr. 2025
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Resist this madness before the unhinged, heartless bully and his spellbound thugs shred our Constitution and our future.—
Chicago Tribune,
Chicago Tribune,
3 Apr. 2025
Noun
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Reckless sanctuary city policies create a sanctuary for one class — criminals.—
Louis Casiano,
FOXNews.com,
26 Apr. 2025
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It is tasked with a broad range of actions — hunting fugitives, transporting federal prisoners and managing goods seized from criminals.—
Faith E. Pinho,
Los Angeles Times,
25 Apr. 2025
Noun
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The infamous gangster, who had set up shop in Cicero, quickly became a prime suspect but initially was nowhere to be found.—
Kori Rumore,
Chicago Tribune,
27 Apr. 2025
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Before long, top officials started calling him an MS-13 gangster and a terrorist, even though he’s never been convicted of a crime.—
Jonathan Blitzer,
New Yorker,
20 Apr. 2025
Noun
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Castillo, a Peruvian national, and his accomplices were considered international bandits and wanted on several continents, according to the Los Angeles Times coverage of their trial, which lasted more than five months.—
Taryn Luna,
Los Angeles Times,
19 Apr. 2025
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The caps proved popular with dockworkers, shipwrights and bandits, and, over time, the baker boy hat became synonymous with the newsboy cap (which was actually worn by boys working at newsstands).—
Rosa Rahimi,
CNN Money,
18 Apr. 2025
Noun
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The Grizzlies were a gritty team by nature, and Brooks was indeed a villain.—
Kelly Iko,
New York Times,
1 May 2025
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With its ability to grow through asphalt and structural material, survive up to 20 years in total darkness and uproot the foundation of homes, Japanese knotweed (Fallopia japonica) could be the villain in a horror movie.—
Martha Proctor,
Mercury News,
1 May 2025
Noun
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The gang specialized in hijacking cars and guarding bootleg liquor shipments for other hoodlums during the Prohibition era.—
Miami Herald Archives,
Miami Herald,
3 Apr. 2025
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True, black leather jackets have become a symbol for hoodlum cycle jockeys, but remember: Good guys wear 'em, too, including policemen.—
Aurora Sousanis,
Detroit Free Press,
5 June 2024
Noun
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When there was nothing left to rob, the pirates often resorted to killing.—
Lauren Vuong,
Mercury News,
19 Apr. 2025
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At that point, someone had a solid-gold epiphany: What if the priceless treasures of Blackbeard, Captain Kidd and their pirate peers lay buried beneath the soil, just waiting for the right shovel?—
Greg Daugherty,
Smithsonian Magazine,
15 Apr. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Hooligan.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/hooligan. Accessed 5 May. 2025.
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