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
Synonyms & Similar Words
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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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Ineffably, Renko’s qualities of solidity and rebelliousness bring my father back to me, and the whole 11-book series, set mostly in Russia (with excursions to Cuba and the Arctic Circle), is a galloping wonder, full of apparatchiks, spies, oligarchs, gangsters, and murders galore.—
Taylor Antrim,
Vogue,
16 July 2025
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Aside from the already extraordinary tale of the O’Leary clan, Jim O’Leary led a life of adventure as a main cog for the city’s infamous gambling operations at a time when gangsters battled over control of the Prohibition liquor trade.—
William Lee,
Chicago Tribune,
5 July 2025
Noun
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Betty Ann Tomlinson, 50, was charged Thursday afternoon with arson, conspiracy to commit arson and assisting a criminal.—
Meredith Colias-Pete,
Chicago Tribune,
12 July 2025
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The thriller follows a professional criminal who, after surviving an assassination attempt, embarks on a relentless quest to identify his would-be killer and protect his family.—
Naman Ramachandran,
Variety,
11 July 2025
Noun
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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
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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
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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In the clip above, Ellis’ Titch and Karanja’s Wash board a pirate ship under less-than-ideal circumstances.—
Kimberly Roots,
TVLine,
14 July 2025
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Just got back today’s newest results and considering some misadventures in the past this 66 year old pirate ship looks ready to go back to sea.—
Ilana Kaplan,
People.com,
14 July 2025
Cite this Entry
“Thug.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/thug. Accessed 30 Jul. 2025.
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