as in thugs
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
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Recent Examples of gangsters
An hour ago, the stocky British actor best known on these shores for playing tough guys and gangsters was on a morning talk show, after having chatted with Jimmy Fallon the previous evening.
—
David Fear, Rolling Stone, 22 Mar. 2025
Plus, the coffers of gangsters will rise.
—Walter E Block, Orange County Register, 22 Mar. 2025
Cemeteries, too, will do a land office business, not only with dead gangsters, but innocents too, caught in the cross fire.
—Walter E Block, Orange County Register, 22 Mar. 2025
But just as the gangsters put their faith in the would-be hitman to carry out the plot, their lawyers turned to him for a defense.
—Karl Vick, TIME, 21 Mar. 2025
Dealing with the fractious relationship between gangsters and former friends Frank Costello and Vito Genovese, the film strains for an epic quality that the filmmaking doesn’t support.
—Frank Scheck, The Hollywood Reporter, 19 Mar. 2025
She’s kidnapped, drugged, and forced to perform for Russian gangsters — a metaphor for how the music industry commodifies artists.
—Kristen S. Hé, Vulture, 19 Mar. 2025
But having Robert De Niro play real-life gangsters Frank Costello and Vito Genovese at once simply feels like a casting stunt.
—Frank Scheck, The Hollywood Reporter, 19 Mar. 2025
Stanley Tucci has played soldiers, gangsters, priests, and even Stanley Kubrick.
—Ryan Coleman, EW.com, 18 Mar. 2025
David Fear, Rolling Stone, 22 Mar. 2025
Plus, the coffers of gangsters will rise.
—Walter E Block, Orange County Register, 22 Mar. 2025
Cemeteries, too, will do a land office business, not only with dead gangsters, but innocents too, caught in the cross fire.
—Walter E Block, Orange County Register, 22 Mar. 2025
But just as the gangsters put their faith in the would-be hitman to carry out the plot, their lawyers turned to him for a defense.
—Karl Vick, TIME, 21 Mar. 2025
Dealing with the fractious relationship between gangsters and former friends Frank Costello and Vito Genovese, the film strains for an epic quality that the filmmaking doesn’t support.
—Frank Scheck, The Hollywood Reporter, 19 Mar. 2025
She’s kidnapped, drugged, and forced to perform for Russian gangsters — a metaphor for how the music industry commodifies artists.
—Kristen S. Hé, Vulture, 19 Mar. 2025
But having Robert De Niro play real-life gangsters Frank Costello and Vito Genovese at once simply feels like a casting stunt.
—Frank Scheck, The Hollywood Reporter, 19 Mar. 2025
Stanley Tucci has played soldiers, gangsters, priests, and even Stanley Kubrick.
—Ryan Coleman, EW.com, 18 Mar. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for gangsters
Noun
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But even as the ways criminals use ransomware are set to evolve, the actual makeup of the technology isn’t expected to change too drastically in the coming years.—
Ryan Browne,
CNBC,
30 Dec. 2024
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The regulation, which would require small businesses to disclose the identity of people who directly or indirectly own a control a company, is designed to prevent criminals from hiding illicit activity conducted through shell companies or opaque ownership structures, the Treasury said.—
Greg Iacurci,
CNBC,
30 Dec. 2024
Noun
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The next big bad in Jared Leto's motley crew of sinister screen villains has finally been announced.—
Ryan Coleman,
EW.com,
21 Dec. 2024
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For others, deep cuts are remembering the names of random Ninja Turtle villains.—
Staff,
The Christian Science Monitor,
20 Dec. 2024
Noun
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The film itself lacks much of the original’s charms (here, the dogs don’t speak), and John Hughes’ so-so script borrows heavily from his earlier film Home Alone, right down to the two fumbling bandits (Hugh Laurie and Mark Williams, playing Cruella’s henchmen).—
Staff Author,
EW.com,
22 Mar. 2025
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Meanwhile, the prince has his own group of seven bandits, in which people with dwarfism are represented.—
Thomas G. Moukawsher,
Newsweek,
21 Mar. 2025
Noun
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The Director also trains young girls to be ballerina-assassins, and one young ballerina (played by Unity Phelan) is shown rehearsing in the scene.—
Ars Technica,
Ars Technica,
19 Mar. 2025
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For some reason, filmmakers have long been of the opinion that hired assassins are just like us, worried about such things as getting older and job security.—
Frank Scheck,
The Hollywood Reporter,
19 Feb. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Gangsters.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/gangsters. Accessed 22 Apr. 2025.
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