as in thug
a violent, brutal person who is often a member of an organized gang
Al Capone remains one of the most notorious gangsters in American history
Synonyms & Similar Words
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Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of gangster
The two get involved in an epic cat-and-mouse chase, as Coltrane brings Isaiah’s former gangster father Amos (Moe Irvin) into his robbery plans.
—
Skyler Trepel, PEOPLE, 16 May 2026
The only ones making money on alcohol now were gangsters.
—Encyclopedia Britannica, 12 May 2026
The gangsters who are running the country almost pride themselves on a lack of subtlety and finesse.
—Ryan Lattanzio, IndieWire, 11 May 2026
The Arlington Resort Hotel & Spa Want to stay in the hotel of choice of gangster Al Capone?
—Caroline Eubanks, Travel + Leisure, 11 May 2026
See All Example Sentences for gangster
Skyler Trepel, PEOPLE, 16 May 2026
The only ones making money on alcohol now were gangsters.
—Encyclopedia Britannica, 12 May 2026
The gangsters who are running the country almost pride themselves on a lack of subtlety and finesse.
—Ryan Lattanzio, IndieWire, 11 May 2026
The Arlington Resort Hotel & Spa Want to stay in the hotel of choice of gangster Al Capone?
—Caroline Eubanks, Travel + Leisure, 11 May 2026
See All Example Sentences for gangster
Recent Examples of Synonyms for gangster
Noun
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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
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White thugs destroyed it in the 1921 Race Massacre.—
Jasmine Desiree,
Los Angeles Times,
12 May 2026
Noun
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The lead about the contraband came via Eric Harper (Joe Delfin), the criminal who shivved Lena's old friend Yancey (Kieron River) a few episodes back.—
Randall Colburn,
Entertainment Weekly,
23 May 2026
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Ben-Gvir, in addition to being an authoritarian racist, is a bona fide criminal.—
Avi Issacharoff,
The Atlantic,
22 May 2026
Noun
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Similarly, Sage’s (Susan Heyward) reverse heel turn and Ashley’s (Colby Minifie) life-saving assistance in the West Wing are apparently good enough deeds to spare these savory villains a more commensurate sentence.—
Ben Travers,
IndieWire,
20 May 2026
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John Boyega's ex-Stormtrooper Finn and Han are brothers from another mother, Oscar Isaac's pilot Poe is as cool and refreshing as a tall glass of blue milk, and Adam Driver's Kylo does his best Vader impression as a maniacal villain with some serious emotional issues.—
Brian Truitt,
USA Today,
20 May 2026
Noun
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Deportees from the United States are especially vulnerable to robbery and kidnapping because gangs and bandits assume that their families can pay larger ransoms.—
Caitlin Dickerson,
The Atlantic,
15 May 2026
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Joined by her hapless but loyal classmate Curtis Mehlberg (Jacob Tremblay), Prue navigates a world of talking animals, bandits, and powerful figures driven by grief and ambition.—
Wilson Chapman,
IndieWire,
13 May 2026
Noun
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To play Baby Karmakar, the deaf-mute assassin at the center of it, Qureshi learned sign language.—
Naman Ramachandran,
Variety,
22 May 2026
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Uma Thurman is Beatrix Kiddo, an assassin known as Black Mamba who tries to escape her life of crime.—
David Faris,
TheWeek,
20 May 2026
Noun
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In the early 20th century, this man-versus-nature oasis was strong-armed into being when mobsters and casino magnates swept into the Nevada desert.—
Zoey Goto,
Architectural Digest,
6 May 2026
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Giuliani was elected New York’s mayor in 1993 after serving as one of the nation’s highest-profile prosecutors, taking on mobsters and crooked Wall Street traders.—
Michael R. Sisak,
Chicago Tribune,
4 May 2026
Cite this Entry
“Gangster.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/gangster. Accessed 24 May. 2026.
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