as in thugs
a violent, brutal person who is often a member of an organized gang
the mobster threatened to break his legs if he didn't pay up
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Recent Examples of mobsters
There was also a lot of speculation that Ruby was involved with organized crime, as he was known to be friends with mobsters, mafia members and other members of the criminal underworld.
—
Skyler Trepel, PEOPLE, 24 Nov. 2025
There, surrounded by mobsters, the future moviemaker embraced Catholicism and the Italian code of omertà.
—Graham Hillard, The Washington Examiner, 31 Oct. 2025
Their investigation plunges them into the shadowy corners of New York and beyond — where the trio uncovers a dangerous web of secrets connecting powerful billionaires, old-school mobsters and the mysterious residents of the Arconia.
—Selome Hailu, Variety, 28 Oct. 2025
Its companions are four Russian mobsters — stragglers from the previous season — laying on their stomachs with their necks outstretched over the rail.
—Demetrius Patterson, HollywoodReporter, 27 Oct. 2025
The mobsters are accused of pocketing some of the $7 million that was fleeced from unsuspecting victims who were drawn to poker tables in Las Vegas, Miami, Manhattan and Long Island’s seaside playground for the rich and famous.
—Preston Fore, Fortune, 25 Oct. 2025
At least one of the mobsters charged is an alleged captain in the Gambino crime family whose first felony conviction dates back to 1999.
—Daniel Arkin, NBC news, 24 Oct. 2025
Some have likened the controversy surrounding Savin's display of old-time mobsters to the debate swirling around old statues of Confederate generals.
—Tovia Smith, NPR, 24 Oct. 2025
One classic discussion underscored the mobsters’ concern about electronic surveillance and demonstrated their inability to do much about it.
—George Anastasia, The Conversation, 20 Oct. 2025
Skyler Trepel, PEOPLE, 24 Nov. 2025
There, surrounded by mobsters, the future moviemaker embraced Catholicism and the Italian code of omertà.
—Graham Hillard, The Washington Examiner, 31 Oct. 2025
Their investigation plunges them into the shadowy corners of New York and beyond — where the trio uncovers a dangerous web of secrets connecting powerful billionaires, old-school mobsters and the mysterious residents of the Arconia.
—Selome Hailu, Variety, 28 Oct. 2025
Its companions are four Russian mobsters — stragglers from the previous season — laying on their stomachs with their necks outstretched over the rail.
—Demetrius Patterson, HollywoodReporter, 27 Oct. 2025
The mobsters are accused of pocketing some of the $7 million that was fleeced from unsuspecting victims who were drawn to poker tables in Las Vegas, Miami, Manhattan and Long Island’s seaside playground for the rich and famous.
—Preston Fore, Fortune, 25 Oct. 2025
At least one of the mobsters charged is an alleged captain in the Gambino crime family whose first felony conviction dates back to 1999.
—Daniel Arkin, NBC news, 24 Oct. 2025
Some have likened the controversy surrounding Savin's display of old-time mobsters to the debate swirling around old statues of Confederate generals.
—Tovia Smith, NPR, 24 Oct. 2025
One classic discussion underscored the mobsters’ concern about electronic surveillance and demonstrated their inability to do much about it.
—George Anastasia, The Conversation, 20 Oct. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for mobsters
Noun
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Even the Democrat hacks at Massport understood the insanity of dumping hundreds more of these thugs into one of the few functioning hubs of commercial activity left in New England.—
Howie Carr,
Boston Herald,
28 Nov. 2025
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Of course, Sarah and her mom continue to believe that God is on their side, even after the family home is attacked by oil company thugs and a reliable ally winds up on the wrong end of a shotgun.—
Joe Leydon,
Variety,
7 Nov. 2025
Noun
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The gangsters grew powerful running liquor during Prohibition.—
Don Sweeney,
Sacbee.com,
6 Jan. 2026
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Beset by gangs and guns, the Haçienda faltered in the ’90s despite clever-sounding schemes such as replacing the club’s security with the gangsters themselves.—
Andrew Holter,
The Atlantic,
31 Dec. 2025
Noun
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The first thing to do is to reduce the damage to the United States, the inflow of guns and criminals and immigrants and drugs into the United States, the destabilizing of a key part of the Western Hemisphere.—
CBS News,
CBS News,
11 Jan. 2026
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Also, place freezes with ChexSystems and the National Consumer Telecom and Utilities Exchange to stop criminals from opening bank accounts, phone lines, or utility services in his name.—
Kurt Knutsson,
FOXNews.com,
11 Jan. 2026
Noun
-
Sorkin finds no heroes but also no villains.—
The Know,
Denver Post,
11 Jan. 2026
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There’s also a massive leg lumbering in the distance which could be a Sentinel, the gigantic, mutant-hunting robots that are some of X-Men’s most iconic villains.—
Jordan Moreau,
Variety,
6 Jan. 2026
Noun
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The robbery lasted less than seven minutes, as the bandits used a truck with an extendable ladder to cut through a window on a second-floor balcony, according to police.—
Mason Leath,
ABC News,
27 Dec. 2025
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In return, a lord provided his peasants with protection from bandits or invaders.—
Bobbi Sutherland,
The Conversation,
19 Dec. 2025
Noun
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When a father seeking vengeance, an American operative experiencing a string of bad luck, and several independent assassins hailing from around the world all end up on the same bullet train bound for Kyoto, the results are violent — and the survivors minimal.—
Declan Gallagher,
Entertainment Weekly,
26 Dec. 2025
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The situation gets more complex with the addition of a bunch of oddball assassins trying to murder the neighbor, plus other mysterious and shady types like his former associate Laverne (Weaver).—
Brian Truitt,
USA Today,
11 Dec. 2025
Noun
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December is the busiest time of year for package deliveries and for the porch pirates who steal them.—
Brittney Melton,
NPR,
31 Dec. 2025
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The Houthis are now supporting Somali pirates to again raid ships in the Indian Ocean.—
Paul Bedard,
The Washington Examiner,
27 Dec. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Mobsters.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/mobsters. Accessed 13 Jan. 2026.
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