Thesaurus results for ROUGHNECKS

roughnecks

noun

plural of roughneck

as in thugs

a violent, brutal person who is often a member of an organized gang a group of roughnecks like to hang out at the roadhouse and harass people

Synonyms & Similar Words

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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 roughnecks The show focuses on roughnecks and billionaires in West Texas who are trying to get rich as the oil industry continues to take over the state. — Lori A Bashian, FOXNews.com, 9 May 2026 But this is a look at the more dynamic version, like the roughnecks out in the patch and the offices in Dallas and Fort Worth. — Jackie Strause, HollywoodReporter, 17 Nov. 2025 Local agency Legacy Casting is putting out a call for real-life oil and gas workers, or roughnecks, to appear in the show. — Brayden Garcia, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 14 Aug. 2025

Recent Examples of Synonyms for roughnecks

Noun

The eponymous former assassin is drawn back into the game after some thugs (led by Alfie Allen) kill his dog and royally piss him off.

— Declan Gallagher, Entertainment Weekly, 14 Aug. 2026
Shortly after his big win, he’s attacked by two thugs in a parking garage.

— Ben Travers, IndieWire, 30 July 2026

Definition of thugs

Noun

Spencer says filmmaker Douglas wanted to very much focus mostly on the women rather than talking about the criminals.

— Antonia Blyth, Deadline, 16 Aug. 2026
Depending on the plan, monitoring may cover credit activity, financial accounts, investment and retirement accounts, phone takeovers, SIM swaps, utility accounts and other areas where criminals may try to use your identity.

— Kurt Knutsson, FOXNews.com, 15 Aug. 2026

Definition of criminals

Noun

The bodies start piling up – and business booms – but the growing enterprise puts the trio in the crosshairs of the powerful gangsters and underworld figures in the lawless border town of Saribgunj.

— Jesse Whittock, Deadline, 17 Aug. 2026
Duane Keith Davis is accused of orchestrating Shakur’s killing in September 1996, and the lore of other rappers and gangsters looms large over his trial.

— Aditi Sangal, CNN Money, 17 Aug. 2026

Definition of gangsters

Noun

One Arab American man later recalled that his great-grandfather, who pursued a similar route, never made it to the Midwest—his train was stopped by a group of bandits from Mexico who forced the passengers to hand over their belongings.

— Rozina Ali, New Yorker, 21 Aug. 2026
The train was sitting just outside a depot in Memphis when the bandits made their move.

— Kiel Porter, Fortune, 17 Aug. 2026

Definition of bandits

Noun

White was briefly granted an exception, but pirates attacked that attempt, stealing his supplies and forcing him back to England.

— Encyclopedia Britannica, Encyclopedia Britannica, 14 Aug. 2026
In the national consciousness, Blackpool has become a morbid caricature of working-class Britain—a place where binge drinking, violence, and vomit are in view of teacup rides, kids on the beach, and plastic pirates.

— George Francis Lee, New Yorker, 12 Aug. 2026

Definition of pirates

Noun

People who once dined together, smiled together, campaigned together and worked together to strengthen our communities are suddenly being portrayed as villains.

— Beau Simon, Sun Sentinel, 16 Aug. 2026
Patrick and Hugo McPherson play the Stabbington brothers, two twin villains.

— Tanya Fedak, Variety, 15 Aug. 2026

Definition of villains

Noun

In that version, the character is played by Joe Don Baker, the great character actor known for playing toughs in films like Walking Tall (1973) and Fletch (1985).

— Britt Hayes, Entertainment Weekly, 5 June 2026
So, while Rue and Maddy are confabbing over milkshakes in a diner, Alamo sends Rue off for a drive with his two toughs, G (Marshawn Lynch) and the icy Bishop (Darrell Britt-Gibson).

— Marlow Stern, Variety, 11 May 2026

Definition of toughs

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roughneck

roughnecks

roughness

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“Roughnecks.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/roughnecks. Accessed 23 Aug. 2026.

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Synonyms of roughnecks

noun

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