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
According to reporting from the Clermont Sun, Fike tweeted ‘#thug the new n word’ in April 2015 and ‘Thug life = thug treatment = no pity from me’ in July 2019.
—
James Wilkins, The Orlando Sentinel, 9 July 2025
These scenes evoke images of government thugs in violent regimes disappearing opponents.
—Christy Lopez Guest, Mercury News, 5 July 2025
Eighty percent of the people would throw these theological thugs out.
—Joey Garrison, USA Today, 17 June 2025
Six years later, Berg aired an even more pointed Seder episode, in which a thug threw a rock through the Goldbergs’ window—a reference to Kristallnacht, which had occurred a few months earlier.
—Emily Nussbaum, New Yorker, 9 June 2025
See All Example Sentences for thug
James Wilkins, The Orlando Sentinel, 9 July 2025
These scenes evoke images of government thugs in violent regimes disappearing opponents.
—Christy Lopez Guest, Mercury News, 5 July 2025
Eighty percent of the people would throw these theological thugs out.
—Joey Garrison, USA Today, 17 June 2025
Six years later, Berg aired an even more pointed Seder episode, in which a thug threw a rock through the Goldbergs’ window—a reference to Kristallnacht, which had occurred a few months earlier.
—Emily Nussbaum, New Yorker, 9 June 2025
See All Example Sentences for thug
Recent Examples of Synonyms for thug
Noun
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The Japanese criminal organization puts a hit out on Ju-yeong, and gangsters flock to the city to take him out.—
Kayti Burt,
Time,
21 July 2025
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The audio clip has been used by Venezuelans to ridicule the widespread suggestion that everyone from the country is a gangster.—
Melissa Sanchez,
ProPublica,
18 July 2025
Noun
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Anti-crime priorities In his remarks, Abbott also unveiled some get-tougher-on crime proposals, including eliminating parole for criminals convicted of child trafficking.—
John C. Moritz,
Austin American Statesman,
30 July 2025
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And despite promises by the administration to remove the worst criminals, ICE deportation data from Jan. 1 to June 24 shows most people who were removed or detained didn’t have a violent criminal record, CBS News reported.—
Natalie Demaree,
Miami Herald,
28 July 2025
Noun
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The film is currently filming in London with Joe and Anthony Russo, the directors behind the highest-grossing MCU movies ever, back behind the camera; Downey now playing the chief villain; and a slew of stars from the lost era of Fox's X-Men movies reprising their roles for the first time in years.—
EW.com,
EW.com,
24 July 2025
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In 1994, Hogan joined WCW and reinvented himself as a villain, forming the New World Order (nWo) and ushering in a new era of edgy storytelling.—
Hannah Parry
Amanda Castro
Joshua Rhett Miller,
MSNBC Newsweek,
24 July 2025
Noun
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Ten years later, Jack and Jackie fell in love—and two months later, Jack was killed by an assassin’s bullet in Dallas, Texas.—
Rachel Burchfield,
Forbes.com,
19 July 2025
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After 50-plus years behind bars, Houten walked out in 2023. — In 2022, Newsom rejected the release of Robert F. Kennedy assassin Sirhan Sirhan — which parole commissioners had recommended.—
Sean Emery,
Oc Register,
17 July 2025
Noun
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The film, which celebrated its 70th anniversary last year, follows a group of seven samurai warriors who save a little village from annihilation at the hands of a group of bandits in 15th-century Japan.—
Jazz Tangcay,
Variety,
22 July 2025
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Riri joins their band of bandits — hacker Slug (Shea Couleé), pyrotechnic master Clown (Sonia Denis), enforcers Jeri (Zoe Terakes) and Roz (Shakira Barrera) aka the Blood Siblings.—
Ronda Racha Penrice,
HollywoodReporter,
11 July 2025
Noun
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But one of the charms of this adaptation of the Donald Westlake long-running book character (previously done in 1967's Point Blank and 1999's Payback) is the interplay between Statham's crafty thief and Lopez's in-over-her-head real estate agent/co-conspirator.—
Elliott Smith,
EW.com,
26 July 2025
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There are ways to protect your vehicle and deter potential thieves The proper steps to take if your vehicle is stolen Car thieves are always on the prowl and there are specific models that get stolen more than others.—
Keenan Thompson,
Freep.com,
24 July 2025
Noun
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Sir Jimmy Crystal gives deeply unsettling vibes from the get-go, and while his bizarre gang of hoodlums do save Spike’s life, it’s implied that Spike may have wandered into a much worse situation.—
Dani Di Placido,
Forbes.com,
25 June 2025
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Critics say police gave up when the rioting erupted in 1992, letting big chunks of the city burn while looters and hoodlums ruled.—
Seema Mehta,
Los Angeles Times,
12 June 2025
Noun
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Long romanticized by cinema (hello, Jack Sparrow), pirate imagery is sneaking into fashion shows, reinterpreted with with luxurious materials, high shafts, relaxed structure, and lots of buckles.—
María Munsuri,
Glamour,
27 July 2025
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The result was a very distinct split between those who figured out the game and stopped trading with the planet that produced the pirate spaceship, and those who did not.—
Jennifer Ouellette,
ArsTechnica,
24 July 2025
Cite this Entry
“Thug.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/thug. Accessed 6 Aug. 2025.
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