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
Although the film became a template for white revenge fantasies, its street thugs are assembled with almost comic care to avoid racial bias.
—
Adam Gopnik, New Yorker, 12 Jan. 2026
This unassuming stranger will be her doom, but not in the straightforward sense of a thug like Jerry.
—Sara Holdren, Vulture, 9 Jan. 2026
Your threat to this criminal regime has also kept the regime's thugs at bay.
—Tucker Reals, CBS News, 9 Jan. 2026
Before this time, young Russians grew up in bleak, rough neighborhoods ruled by street thugs.
—Mikhail Zygar, Vanity Fair, 7 Jan. 2026
See All Example Sentences for thug
Adam Gopnik, New Yorker, 12 Jan. 2026
This unassuming stranger will be her doom, but not in the straightforward sense of a thug like Jerry.
—Sara Holdren, Vulture, 9 Jan. 2026
Your threat to this criminal regime has also kept the regime's thugs at bay.
—Tucker Reals, CBS News, 9 Jan. 2026
Before this time, young Russians grew up in bleak, rough neighborhoods ruled by street thugs.
—Mikhail Zygar, Vanity Fair, 7 Jan. 2026
See All Example Sentences for thug
Recent Examples of Synonyms for thug
Noun
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Brocklehurst’s script is about a gangster movie fan who goes to a crime convention in Nevada, hence the title.—
Max Goldbart,
Deadline,
22 Jan. 2026
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He was freed on supervised release in May 2020, but quickly broke that pledge, chowing down with his fellow Colombo gangsters at the legendary Brennan and Carr restaurant that November to discuss the crime family’s future, and their labor union shakedown scheme.—
John Annese,
New York Daily News,
22 Jan. 2026
Noun
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In a news release announcing the signature petition, backers of the measure featured quotes from prominent Colorado and national Democrats supporting deporting violent criminals, though none have apparently endorsed this specific measure.—
Nick Coltrain,
Denver Post,
24 Jan. 2026
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This is the justification for the administration’s desire to deport criminals, persons who have truly harmed others by breaking laws.—
Scott Santarosa,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
23 Jan. 2026
Noun
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Picking winners and losers, heroes and villains, pathways to success and failure, generates excitement for an event and manufactures a sense of urgency for maximal viewing pleasure.—
Brady Brickner-Wood,
New Yorker,
28 Jan. 2026
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What the late Ka did to build resolve against the unforgiving brutalities of Brownsville, Marci combines with the flair of a Bond villain and contempt for anyone attempting to copy his mold.—
Dylan Green,
Pitchfork,
28 Jan. 2026
Noun
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Based on the novel by Stephen King, The Running Man is a dystopian sci-fi movie about a reality TV show where contestants, known as Runners, must survive 30 days while being hunted by professional assassins.—
Erik Kain,
Forbes.com,
23 Jan. 2026
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Kirk's alleged assassin was in court last week, where his attorneys argued that the entire prosecution team should be disqualified.—
Peter D'Abrosca,
FOXNews.com,
18 Jan. 2026
Noun
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There can be no doubt that in tax terms, America’s wealthiest families make out like bandits.—
Business Columnist,
Los Angeles Times,
8 Jan. 2026
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The robbery lasted less than seven minutes, as the bandits used a truck with an extendable ladder to cut through a window on a second-floor balcony, according to police.—
Mason Leath,
ABC News,
27 Dec. 2025
Noun
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Amateur thief stories and epic gangster sagas await you.—
Kevin Jacobsen,
Entertainment Weekly,
28 Jan. 2026
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Plus, investing in good clothes isn’t a bad idea for a street thief like Harry, who should want to evade suspicion.—
Tomris Laffly,
Variety,
28 Jan. 2026
Noun
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But as Duterte’s father, Vicente, had increasingly gravitated toward Malacañang, his son hung out with the family bodyguards—and crafted the persona of a rough-talking bugoy, or hoodlum, in his native Bisayan tongue.—
Sean Williams,
Harpers Magazine,
27 Jan. 2026
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These involve raiding the lairs of hoodlum rivals, then singlehandedly dissuading them from competition.—
Dennis Harvey,
Variety,
28 Oct. 2025
Noun
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These oil fields basically are pirate operations.—
ABC News,
ABC News,
4 Jan. 2026
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Notorious pirate Jean Lafitte frequented neighboring Grand Terre Island in the early 1800s.—
Kristy Christiansen,
Southern Living,
31 Dec. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Thug.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/thug. Accessed 31 Jan. 2026.
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