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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All email platforms are targeted by criminals, that’s for sure, but Gmail has the biggest bullseye on its back courtesy of that user base.—
Davey Winder,
Forbes.com,
25 Apr. 2025
Noun
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Children meet superheroes and villains, engage with games and movies, and are greeted by staff in costume.—
Chris Gallagher,
USA Today,
19 Apr. 2025
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The soul patch, villain, and walrus facial hair all work with masks while mutton chops and chin curtain don’t.—
Lisa Wood Shapiro,
Wired News,
18 Apr. 2025
Noun
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In The Accountant 2, premiering April 25 in theaters, Affleck and Bernthal reunite as brothers Christian and Braxton, who come together to help track down a mysterious assassin.—
Glenn Garner,
Deadline,
16 Apr. 2025
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The beret-lover with the $20,000 necklace (Lauren McKnight) was the second assassin.—
Sara Netzley,
EW.com,
15 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 2 May. 2025.
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