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 residents occasionally gather in a disused rec center but the meetings devolve into rants about immigrants, junkies, thugs and vigilantism. — Jessica Kiang, Variety, 26 Sep. 2026 That a Christian man was responsible for the devastation in Oklahoma City certainly didn’t matter to the thugs who terrorized a Muslim woman there, nearly seven months pregnant, by attacking her home, breaking her windows, screaming religious slurs. — Reshma Memon Yaqub, Rolling Stone, 11 Sep. 2026 On a cold night in November 2011, in a field outside Kharkiv in northeastern Ukraine, a gang of thugs stormed a Soviet scientific research institute, beat and humiliated the staff and burned the place to the ground. — Scott Roxborough, HollywoodReporter, 8 Sep. 2026 Meanwhile, Kyle and his usual pair of special-forces thugs track down a suspiciously large plane (as in, big enough to fly across the Atlantic) and an equally suspicious flight manifest. — Andy Andersen, Vulture, 6 Sep. 2026 See All Example Sentences for thug

Recent Examples of Synonyms for thug

Noun

All those old Warner Brothers gangster movies were always playing on TV.

— David Fear, Rolling Stone, 29 Oct. 2026
The Capone associates lined up six members of Moran's gang, and a seventh unaffiliated man who apparently liked hanging out with gangsters, against the north wall of the garage.

— Adam Harrington, CBS News, 27 Oct. 2026

Definition of gangster

Noun

The trailers were recovered by police nearby, presumably after the criminals cut the locks to reveal they were each loaded with 20,000 pounds of sand.

— Nick Indge, ArsTechnica, 6 Nov. 2026
Without changing state law, criminals can continue to be sentenced to death in California.

— Sonja Sharp, Los Angeles Times, 5 Nov. 2026

Definition of criminal

Noun

Horowitz then brought up Skarsgard’s longtime interest in playing a villain in the James Bond franchise.

— Lexi Carson, HollywoodReporter, 7 Nov. 2026
Much psychological research has focussed on the degradation of villains, but a symmetrical force works to elevate victims.

— Paul Bloom, New Yorker, 6 Nov. 2026

Definition of villain

Noun

The explosion killed him and fourteen others in his vicinity, as well as the assassin, and injured another forty-three.

— Sonia Gandhi, Vanity Fair, 10 Nov. 2026
Martin McDonagh’s latest comedy drama casts Malkovich as Chris Carlisle, a dying CIA assassin who in 1973 is visiting Chile’s Easter Island with a protégé, played by Sam Rockwell, who just may kill his mentor before their getaway is over.

— The Week US, TheWeek, 10 Nov. 2026

Definition of assassin

Noun

Attacks by bandits are common across northern Nigeria where armed groups carry out attacks against civilian populations.

— ABC News, ABC News, 27 Oct. 2026
Attacks by bandits are common across northern Nigeria, where armed groups carry out attacks against civilian populations.

— Dyepkazah Shibayan, Los Angeles Times, 27 Oct. 2026

Definition of bandit

Noun

As Ars’ Ashley Belanger reported recently, thieves have made off with more than $100 million in similar shipments since June.

— Nick Indge, ArsTechnica, 6 Nov. 2026
The sweep focused on vehicles that are overwhelmingly targeted by thieves, according to a statement issued by the Howard County Police Department (HCPD).

— CBS News, CBS News, 6 Nov. 2026

Definition of thief

Noun

His warning was meant for American eyes and ears at least as much — if not more so — than for the government in Jerusalem that until now has encouraged the hoodlums by tolerating their violence.

— Sun Sentinel Editorial Board, Sun Sentinel, 11 Sep. 2026
Also in his orbit are a consortium of crooks, including his cousin Freddie, a hip junkie, and Pepper, a taciturn hoodlum who was friends with Ray’s dad, Big Mike, a legendary thief.

— Niela Orr, Vulture, 20 July 2026

Definition of hoodlum

Noun

The illuminated night walk will take guests on a journey through numerous locales from the fairy tale, ranging from the rooftops of London to the Lost Boys’ secret hideout to Captain Hook’s pirate ship.

— Todd Martens, Los Angeles Times, 10 Nov. 2026
Related Stories The franchise is built around a retelling of the stories about real life character Cheng Shih, who was a powerful female pirate in the South China Sea at the beginning of the 18th century.

— Naman Ramachandran, Variety, 4 Nov. 2026

Definition of pirate

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thuds

thug

thugs

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“Thug.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/thug. Accessed 13 Nov. 2026.

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Synonyms of thug

noun

Example Sentences

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