as in gangster
a violent, brutal person who is often a member of an organized gang
the Mob boss regularly sent his thugs after people who were slow to pay their debts
Synonyms & Similar Words
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Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of thug
The Depardieu shtick — his public persona as a crude, working-class thug — was on full display.
—
Jordan Mintzer, HollywoodReporter, 2 Apr. 2025
Gopnik is a derogatory Russian slang word that roughly translates to thug.
—Lissete Lanuza Sáenz, StyleCaster, 1 Apr. 2025
Instead, Ray is greeted by more Nazi biker thugs and escapes their grasp via foot chase and a gnarly run-in with a garbage truck.
—Andy Andersen, Vulture, 14 Mar. 2025
The British consul wants to smuggle the seal out of China, with the help of a group of local thugs.
—ArsTechnica, 7 Apr. 2025
See All Example Sentences for thug
Jordan Mintzer, HollywoodReporter, 2 Apr. 2025
Gopnik is a derogatory Russian slang word that roughly translates to thug.
—Lissete Lanuza Sáenz, StyleCaster, 1 Apr. 2025
Instead, Ray is greeted by more Nazi biker thugs and escapes their grasp via foot chase and a gnarly run-in with a garbage truck.
—Andy Andersen, Vulture, 14 Mar. 2025
The British consul wants to smuggle the seal out of China, with the help of a group of local thugs.
—ArsTechnica, 7 Apr. 2025
See All Example Sentences for thug
Recent Examples of Synonyms for thug
Noun
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The infamous gangster, who had set up shop in Cicero, quickly became a prime suspect but initially was nowhere to be found.—
Kori Rumore,
Chicago Tribune,
27 Apr. 2025
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Before long, top officials started calling him an MS-13 gangster and a terrorist, even though he’s never been convicted of a crime.—
Jonathan Blitzer,
New Yorker,
20 Apr. 2025
Noun
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Reckless sanctuary city policies create a sanctuary for one class — criminals.—
Louis Casiano,
FOXNews.com,
26 Apr. 2025
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All email platforms are targeted by criminals, that’s for sure, but Gmail has the biggest bullseye on its back courtesy of that user base.—
Davey Winder,
Forbes.com,
25 Apr. 2025
Noun
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The Grizzlies were a gritty team by nature, and Brooks was indeed a villain.—
Kelly Iko,
New York Times,
1 May 2025
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With its ability to grow through asphalt and structural material, survive up to 20 years in total darkness and uproot the foundation of homes, Japanese knotweed (Fallopia japonica) could be the villain in a horror movie.—
Martha Proctor,
Mercury News,
1 May 2025
Noun
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Mistaken for the world’s deadliest assassin, Ben becomes the perfect decoy for Eden.—
Matt Grobar,
Deadline,
29 Apr. 2025
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Havoc brings the heat, throwing Tom Hardy's stony Walker into a hotbed of gangsters, dirty cops, corrupt elites, and wicked assassins.—
Randall Colburn,
EW.com,
28 Apr. 2025
Noun
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Castillo, a Peruvian national, and his accomplices were considered international bandits and wanted on several continents, according to the Los Angeles Times coverage of their trial, which lasted more than five months.—
Taryn Luna,
Los Angeles Times,
19 Apr. 2025
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The caps proved popular with dockworkers, shipwrights and bandits, and, over time, the baker boy hat became synonymous with the newsboy cap (which was actually worn by boys working at newsstands).—
Rosa Rahimi,
CNN Money,
18 Apr. 2025
Noun
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So, where are the thieves from The Diamond Heist now?—
Jessica Sager,
People.com,
17 Apr. 2025
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The trio must tag team to outsmart a cunning international thief and save a priceless diamond gauntlet — just in time for Christmas.—
Brian Welk,
IndieWire,
15 Apr. 2025
Noun
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The gang specialized in hijacking cars and guarding bootleg liquor shipments for other hoodlums during the Prohibition era.—
Miami Herald Archives,
Miami Herald,
3 Apr. 2025
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True, black leather jackets have become a symbol for hoodlum cycle jockeys, but remember: Good guys wear 'em, too, including policemen.—
Aurora Sousanis,
Detroit Free Press,
5 June 2024
Noun
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When there was nothing left to rob, the pirates often resorted to killing.—
Lauren Vuong,
Mercury News,
19 Apr. 2025
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At that point, someone had a solid-gold epiphany: What if the priceless treasures of Blackbeard, Captain Kidd and their pirate peers lay buried beneath the soil, just waiting for the right shovel?—
Greg Daugherty,
Smithsonian Magazine,
15 Apr. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Thug.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/thug. Accessed 5 May. 2025.
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