as in thug
a violent, brutal person who is often a member of an organized gang
London bobbies clearing the streets of hooligans
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Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of hooligan
The left would be wise to wake up to this fact and start acting with some decorum, instead of like a bunch of power-drunk hooligans.
—
Reader Commentary, Baltimore Sun, 24 June 2025
There’s a little bit of fear now, of people losing control, of hooligans.
—Dermot Corrigan, New York Times, 19 May 2025
As if to prove his point about support for environmental causes, Millwall fans, often lazily stereotyped as hooligans more interested in Green Street than going green, are proving how outdated such stereotypes are by leading one environmental league table.
—Steve Price, Forbes.com, 23 Apr. 2025
More menacingly, anti-Semitic Polish-nationalist hooligans have mounting success enforcing a boycott against Jewish merchants in villages across the region.
—Judith Shulevitz, The Atlantic, 16 Mar. 2025
See All Example Sentences for hooligan
Reader Commentary, Baltimore Sun, 24 June 2025
There’s a little bit of fear now, of people losing control, of hooligans.
—Dermot Corrigan, New York Times, 19 May 2025
As if to prove his point about support for environmental causes, Millwall fans, often lazily stereotyped as hooligans more interested in Green Street than going green, are proving how outdated such stereotypes are by leading one environmental league table.
—Steve Price, Forbes.com, 23 Apr. 2025
More menacingly, anti-Semitic Polish-nationalist hooligans have mounting success enforcing a boycott against Jewish merchants in villages across the region.
—Judith Shulevitz, The Atlantic, 16 Mar. 2025
See All Example Sentences for hooligan
Recent Examples of Synonyms for hooligan
Noun
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We’re then introduced to Louie, a thug who works for a loan shark, threatening and killing people.—
Owen Gleiberman,
Variety,
3 Sep. 2025
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Their neighbor, an older Jewish woman, gets arrested and Nazi thugs brazenly loot her apartment.—
Rabih Alameddine
September 2,
Literary Hub,
2 Sep. 2025
Noun
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Lawmakers in many states have changed the rules in recent decades to protect winners from being targeted by criminals and unscrupulous people asking for money.—
Safiyah Riddle,
Chicago Tribune,
6 Sep. 2025
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Her Eco-Age consultancy, targeted by criminals and forced to close in 2024 after 17 years in business, had advised clients on industry developments, changes to government policies and practical guidance on how to avoid greenwashing.—
Luisa Zargani,
Footwear News,
6 Sep. 2025
Noun
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The pic is a story about a gangster in modern-day Chicago, inspired by the repentance story of the fifth-century saint of the same name.—
Andreas Wiseman,
Deadline,
5 Sep. 2025
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That‘s led to an artist like Thug wanting to be perceived as a gangster more than a savvy businessman, even with a precarious 15-year probation over his head.—
Andre Gee,
Rolling Stone,
3 Sep. 2025
Noun
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Joe Pesci and Daniel Stern were cast as the bumbling but dogged bandits, Harry and Marv, and Catherine O’Hara brought humor and compassion to the part of Kevin’s mother.—
Tim Greiving,
Vulture,
3 Sep. 2025
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Are there ways that notorious bandits have successfully robbed banks?—
Lance Eliot,
Forbes.com,
29 Aug. 2025
Noun
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Vineland’s repressive villain Brock Vond ends ferried to hell by two Eastside vatos locos, while the hippie father Zoyd reunites with his daughter at an anarchist family picnic.—
John Lopez,
HollywoodReporter,
6 Sep. 2025
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There are villains in every episode and the story uses them to showcase some societal issues.—
Joan MacDonald,
Forbes.com,
6 Sep. 2025
Noun
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Whereas the Star Wars sequels woefully misused the actor's talents, this movie puts them center stage, playing one of the teen hoodlums who join forces with their victim to fight off nasty, otherworldly invaders.—
Chris Snellgrove,
EW.com,
12 Aug. 2025
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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
Noun
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Off the coast between Somalia and Yemen, the ship was attacked by pirates, and passengers were told to wait on Deck 5 as the captain sped up the ship.—
Kathleen Wong,
USA Today,
2 Sep. 2025
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Participants are encouraged to dress like a pirate and to wear shoes and clothes that can get wet.—
Michelle Mullins,
Chicago Tribune,
2 Sep. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Hooligan.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/hooligan. Accessed 11 Sep. 2025.
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