1
as in grimaced
to distort one's face
every time their picture was snapped, both children mugged by sticking out their tongues or scrunching up their faces
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in photographed
to take a photograph of
mugging captured criminals for the police records
Synonyms & Similar Words
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 mugged
At that moment, this was not just about public safety, cleaning up the streets, or being mugged.
—
Literary Hub, 21 Jan. 2026
No one wants to get mugged in the Lower East Side — or anywhere else, of course.
—Sarah Shachat, IndieWire, 14 Jan. 2026
The outfit is featured in the scene where Cher gets mugged alone in Los Angeles at night, with the character name-dropping the designer as the incident unfolds.
—Angela Andaloro, PEOPLE, 12 Jan. 2026
America hadn’t been outpaced by a flawed rival; it had been mugged.
—Ian Parker, New Yorker, 22 Dec. 2025
Our own editors have run the gamut of unexpected setbacks abroad, including getting mugged and pickpocketed, as well as having their passports stolen.
—Michelle Baricevic, Travel + Leisure, 20 Dec. 2025
Those included the presence of people selling drugs, gang activity, homes broken into by burglars, people being robbed or mugged, people getting beaten or raped, and children and youth getting into trouble.
—Anna Maria Santiago, The Conversation, 10 Dec. 2025
Besides being mugged by one of Iza’s henchmen, a brick was thrown through his window and his car was vandalized.
—Jesse Hyde, Rolling Stone, 21 Oct. 2025
After a stint staying with her police detective son, Charlie, Harry begins to investigate crimes herself, now finding an unlikely new sleuthing partner, a teen who had mugged Harry.
—Anne Easton, Forbes.com, 17 Sep. 2025
Literary Hub, 21 Jan. 2026
No one wants to get mugged in the Lower East Side — or anywhere else, of course.
—Sarah Shachat, IndieWire, 14 Jan. 2026
The outfit is featured in the scene where Cher gets mugged alone in Los Angeles at night, with the character name-dropping the designer as the incident unfolds.
—Angela Andaloro, PEOPLE, 12 Jan. 2026
America hadn’t been outpaced by a flawed rival; it had been mugged.
—Ian Parker, New Yorker, 22 Dec. 2025
Our own editors have run the gamut of unexpected setbacks abroad, including getting mugged and pickpocketed, as well as having their passports stolen.
—Michelle Baricevic, Travel + Leisure, 20 Dec. 2025
Those included the presence of people selling drugs, gang activity, homes broken into by burglars, people being robbed or mugged, people getting beaten or raped, and children and youth getting into trouble.
—Anna Maria Santiago, The Conversation, 10 Dec. 2025
Besides being mugged by one of Iza’s henchmen, a brick was thrown through his window and his car was vandalized.
—Jesse Hyde, Rolling Stone, 21 Oct. 2025
After a stint staying with her police detective son, Charlie, Harry begins to investigate crimes herself, now finding an unlikely new sleuthing partner, a teen who had mugged Harry.
—Anne Easton, Forbes.com, 17 Sep. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for mugged
Verb
-
Edgecombe was fouled by San Antonio's Carter Bryant on a 3-point attempt on Tuesday night and grimaced as he was helped up by his teammates.—
CBS News,
CBS News,
4 Mar. 2026
-
Williams knocked knees late in the fourth quarter against Houston and immediately grimaced, but didn’t show any effects after posting 20 points and nine rebounds in 29 minutes.—
Roderick Boone,
Charlotte Observer,
21 Feb. 2026
Verb
-
Paul was also photographed at the Olympics attending women's speed skating matches, as his fiancé Jutta Leerdam is a Dutch speed skater who won gold in the 1,000-meter competition.—
Kinsey Crowley,
USA Today,
12 Mar. 2026
-
In January, a young associate of Burke’s, who spent time with him at the house in the Hollywood Hills and was often photographed with him at events, was arrested at his mother’s house in Helena, Montana.—
Allison Gordon,
CNN Money,
12 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
When the guilty verdict was announced, Dale Warner stared at the floor and shook his head in apparent disbelief, reported The Daily Telegram, part of the USA TODAY Network.—
Corey J. Murray,
USA Today,
12 Mar. 2026
-
Virginia stared its disappointment dead in the eye in the offseason, channeling it to fuel a run to the school’s first national championship.—
Dana O’Neil,
CNN Money,
11 Mar. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Mugged.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/mugged. Accessed 13 Mar. 2026.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
