as in criminals
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 thugs
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 masked thugs deposit a tearful middle-aged woman in front of Bass, Newsom, and Harris.
—
Conor Friedersdorf,
The Atlantic,
12 May 2026
White thugs destroyed it in the 1921 Race Massacre.
—
Jasmine Desiree,
Los Angeles Times,
12 May 2026
He’s beaten by thugs with a crowbar for an unfortunate outburst, exploited by neighbors in the council estate and arrested, all because people don’t understand Tourette syndrome.
—
Katie Walsh,
Boston Herald,
24 Apr. 2026
Mayor vows to catch 'thugs who did this' Baton Rouge Mayor Sid Edwards promised that law enforcement will catch the people responsible for the violence at the mall.
—
Amanda Lee Myers,
USA Today,
23 Apr. 2026
The thugs would insinuate themselves into the confidence of wayfarers and, when a favorable opportunity presented itself, strangle them by throwing a handkerchief or noose around their necks.
—
Encyclopedia Britannica,
31 Mar. 2026
No government masked thugs shooting down our neighbors in the streets.
—
Diego Parrado,
Vanity Fair,
29 Mar. 2026
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 masked thugs deposit a tearful middle-aged woman in front of Bass, Newsom, and Harris.
—
Conor Friedersdorf,
The Atlantic,
12 May 2026
White thugs destroyed it in the 1921 Race Massacre.
—
Jasmine Desiree,
Los Angeles Times,
12 May 2026
He’s beaten by thugs with a crowbar for an unfortunate outburst, exploited by neighbors in the council estate and arrested, all because people don’t understand Tourette syndrome.
—
Katie Walsh,
Boston Herald,
24 Apr. 2026
Mayor vows to catch 'thugs who did this' Baton Rouge Mayor Sid Edwards promised that law enforcement will catch the people responsible for the violence at the mall.
—
Amanda Lee Myers,
USA Today,
23 Apr. 2026
The thugs would insinuate themselves into the confidence of wayfarers and, when a favorable opportunity presented itself, strangle them by throwing a handkerchief or noose around their necks.
—
Encyclopedia Britannica,
31 Mar. 2026
No government masked thugs shooting down our neighbors in the streets.
—
Diego Parrado,
Vanity Fair,
29 Mar. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for thugs
Noun
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What begins as a chance to escape the routine of his everyday life quickly spirals into a dangerous gathering of powerful criminals, old enemies, and unresolved loyalties.
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That creates the perfect opening for criminals.
Noun
-
The 16 reputed gangsters or aspiring gangsters charged in the indictment range in age from 19 to 24.
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Neither immigrant family should be linked to violent gangsters, of course.
Noun
-
Together, the band brings to life a mythic world of ancient heroes and villains, attracting an excited audience of headbangers and fantasy fanatics, many of whom show up in costume.
-
Animation fans were in for a very tasty treat, as the episode introduced villains and set the tone for the brutal show adapted from the best-selling Vertigo series by the late Anthony Bourdain, co-created with Joel Rose.
Noun
-
Instead, most are romantic stories about young lovers separated by fate, and the rest are swashbuckling adventures full of bandits and pirates.
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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.
Noun
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These artisans, with their trade secrets, were kept on Murano, a cluster of islands just across the lagoon from the city, ostensibly as a precaution against fire, though the state would also send assassins after anyone who tried to leave.
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Unfortunately, Daemon’s hired assassins killed Aegon’s young son Jaehaerys instead so any real possibility for a family reconciliation was lost.
Noun
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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.
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The first pictures McCullin took were of hoodlums and down-and-outs, subjects that reflected his own hardscrabble background.
Noun
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An employee said the thieves stole the cash register and several tobacco products.
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Lightweight, yet durable, this small bag features RFID-blocking technology to prevent thieves from accessing your credit card numbers and personal details with a quick skim (scan) of your bag on a busy street or crowded bus.
Noun
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The age of sail, when pirates like Johnny Depp’s fictional Jack Sparrow roamed the seven seas, ended about 200 years ago.
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Eight pages later, Leucippe has to fake her own beheading to escape from pirates.
Cite this Entry
“Thugs.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/thugs. Accessed 5 Jul. 2026.
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