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
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Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of thug
The British consul wants to smuggle the seal out of China, with the help of a group of local thugs.
—
ArsTechnica, 7 Apr. 2025
As the machine gun thug tries to seal that deal for Whitman, Cara attempts to get him in her rifle's sights.
—Matt Cabral, EW.com, 6 Apr. 2025
Boasberg, who wants to welcome the Venezuelan thugs back to the US, previously broomed the cases of assorted Deep State types, including Jan. 6 insurrectionist Ray Epps and FBI justice-obstructer Kevin Clinesmith.
—Howie Carr, Boston Herald, 19 Mar. 2025
Fugard also wrote the novel Tsotsi about a young street thug who steals a car only to discover a baby in the back seat, which was made into a movie by Gavin Hood and won the 2006 Oscar for Best International Feature.
—Max Goldbart, Deadline, 10 Mar. 2025
See All Example Sentences for thug
ArsTechnica, 7 Apr. 2025
As the machine gun thug tries to seal that deal for Whitman, Cara attempts to get him in her rifle's sights.
—Matt Cabral, EW.com, 6 Apr. 2025
Boasberg, who wants to welcome the Venezuelan thugs back to the US, previously broomed the cases of assorted Deep State types, including Jan. 6 insurrectionist Ray Epps and FBI justice-obstructer Kevin Clinesmith.
—Howie Carr, Boston Herald, 19 Mar. 2025
Fugard also wrote the novel Tsotsi about a young street thug who steals a car only to discover a baby in the back seat, which was made into a movie by Gavin Hood and won the 2006 Oscar for Best International Feature.
—Max Goldbart, Deadline, 10 Mar. 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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Trump has expressed support for Salvadoran President Nayib Bukele's maximum security prison, calling it an effective solution for U.S. criminals.—
Amanda Castro,
MSNBC Newsweek,
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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Much more disturbing than the scenes of pint-size assassins wreaking havoc (or emerging bloody from a birth sack in the Grand Guignol climax) are the toxic emotions that inspired them.—
A.A. Dowd,
Vulture,
28 Apr. 2025
Noun
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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
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Security cameras at the church captured images of the bandit, who appears to be an older white woman.—
Roni Jacobson,
New York Daily News,
29 Mar. 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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