Thesaurus results for THUG

thug

noun

ˈthəg

Definition of thug

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

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 thug The actions of these thugs, who should be imprisoned for a long while, is the cause of denying real Knicks fans the chance to watch the game communally. — Voice Of The People, New York Daily News, 10 June 2026 People have committed suicide because a bunch of thugs went after them. — NBC news, 7 June 2026 The fact that this racist thug has been handed policing power by Netanyahu says more about the state of Israel’s democracy and political values—and in particular about the prime minister’s values—than many Israelis might like to admit. — Avi Issacharoff, The Atlantic, 22 May 2026 White thugs destroyed it in the 1921 Race Massacre. — Jasmine Desiree, Los Angeles Times, 12 May 2026 See All Example Sentences for thug

Recent Examples of Synonyms for thug

Noun

In Gosha’s case, that involves getting mixed up with gangsters at a seedy nightclub, a sequence that quickly deteriorates from being mildly comical to sinister to outright terrifying by even degrees.

— Leslie Felperin, HollywoodReporter, 14 July 2026
It a strange, mystical Bond movie, that’s part an attempt at Blacksploitation and part about Harlem gangsters, Caribbean drug farming, and voodoo-practicing witch doctors.

— Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 13 July 2026

Definition of gangster

Noun

Data that appears to be compliance information to a regulator can appear to be a target list to a criminal.

— Susie Violet Ward, Forbes.com, 2 July 2026
The Colorado attorney general oversees more than 700 attorneys and staff and manages legal manners spanning consumer protection, civil rights, criminal, water, constitutional and environmental law.

— Jesse Sarles, CBS News, 1 July 2026

Definition of criminal

Noun

Judith claims to be a forensic accountant, but is actually a career assassin whose very name sends shivers of fear through her enemies and ones of excitement through her admirers.

— Angie Han, HollywoodReporter, 14 July 2026
Julie has returned her old ways as an assassin, whilst navigating an equally perilous dating scene, while Edward’s honeymoon with Kayla (Shalom Brune-Franklin) doesn’t go quite as planned.

— Jesse Whittock, Deadline, 6 July 2026

Definition of assassin

Noun

Instead, most are romantic stories about young lovers separated by fate, and the rest are swashbuckling adventures full of bandits and pirates.

— Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 30 June 2026
Fantastical adventures ensue as the pair encounter a mysterious woman, Alexandra, who has lost her son, along with coyotes, bandits, and some pretty big secrets.

— Jennifer Ouellette, ArsTechnica, 29 June 2026

Definition of bandit

Noun

The railroad is still determining where to lay tracks, and there’s always thieves, developers, and even wildfires to worry about.

— Ben Travers, IndieWire, 9 July 2026
Plus, Palmer is a horrible person — in this case, the victim is much more despicable than the thieves.

— Oline H. Cogdill, Sun Sentinel, 8 July 2026

Definition of thief

Noun

In the past decade, the leadership of the Kinahan organization has become rich and cosmopolitan, and their life styles have started to resemble those of international businessmen more than of street hoodlums.

— Ed Caesar, New Yorker, 30 Apr. 2026
The Knesset recently legalized the death penalty for Arabs who murder Jews, but not for the hoodlum Israeli settlers who have been killing West Bank residents to seize their land.

— Sun Sentinel Editorial Board, Sun Sentinel, 17 Apr. 2026

Definition of hoodlum

Noun

The Northern California amusement parks that exist today include Children’s Wonderland in Vallejo, where children enter through castle doors guarded by crocodiles to clamber on a teapot, pirate ship and pumpkin carriage.

— John Metcalfe, Mercury News, 13 July 2026
Today, travelers are drawn to natural phenomena like the bone-white cliffs of former pirate lair Kleftiko and Sikia sea cave with azure waters ideal for snorkeling.

— Helen Iatrou, Travel + Leisure, 11 July 2026

Definition of pirate

Browse Nearby Words

thuds

thug

thugs

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“Thug.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/thug. Accessed 16 Jul. 2026.

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Synonyms of thug

noun

Example Sentences

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