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
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
The draw for the 1994 World Cup was held there, when James Brown performed and Robin Williams mugged for the cameras with Sepp Blatter, one of entertainment’s more unlikely double acts.
—Nick Miller, New York Times, 25 Aug. 2025
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
The draw for the 1994 World Cup was held there, when James Brown performed and Robin Williams mugged for the cameras with Sepp Blatter, one of entertainment’s more unlikely double acts.
—Nick Miller, New York Times, 25 Aug. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for mugged
Verb
-
The knee buckled upon his landing and Butler screamed, grimaced and grabbed at his knee while down for a couple of minutes.—
CBS News,
CBS News,
20 Jan. 2026
-
Nix grimaced and walked off the field.—
Parker Gabriel,
Denver Post,
18 Jan. 2026
Verb
-
Gabbard was photographed in Fulton County on the day of the raid as the FBI seized 2020 election ballots.—
David Zimmermann,
The Washington Examiner,
30 Jan. 2026
-
Though the former anchor mostly stays out of the public eye, he has been photographed at a few events, including Don Lemon's New York City wedding in April 2024.—
Emily Blackwood,
PEOPLE,
29 Jan. 2026
Verb
-
LeBron James stared stoically at the video board.—
Assistant Sports Editor,
Los Angeles Times,
29 Jan. 2026
-
Near the launch site, members of the crowd shrieked or stared in disbelief.—
Miami Herald Archives,
Miami Herald,
27 Jan. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Mugged.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/mugged. Accessed 1 Feb. 2026.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
