as in thug
a violent, brutal person who is often a member of an organized gang
the argument that the DEA needs to focus more on the kingpins of the drug trade and less on the gangbangers in the street
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Recent Examples of gangbanger
Listen to this article Loading your audio article Two gangbangers responsible for killing a 22-month-old boy at a Brooklyn cookout have been convicted of the tot’s slaying, in a pair of trials that covered an array of death and destruction caused by the bloodthirsty Hoolie gang.
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John Annese, New York Daily News, 17 Apr. 2024
The group aspired to paint a fuller, more nuanced picture that went beyond the image of a gangbanger.
—Fidel Martinez, Los Angeles Times, 10 July 2023
Far from a gangbanger, Yarl was described later in a statement by North Kansas City School District Superintendent Dan Clemens as an excellent student and a talented musician who maintains a stellar GPA while taking mostly college-level courses — far from a criminal profile.
—Clarence Page, Chicago Tribune, 21 Apr. 2023
Puppet is probably the mark of the gangbanger who drew the X8.
—Adam Hadhazy, Discover Magazine, 26 Sep. 2012
The trajectory from gangbanger in South San Gabriel to city poet laureate and bestselling author would have been dramatic enough.
—Los Angeles Times, 1 Nov. 2022
Despite making up 18% of the U.S. population, the usual stereotypes of the gangbanger, the day laborer, the janitor, the maid, and the exotic Latina continue to be seen on the big screen.
—AZCentral.com, 15 Sep. 2021
The gangbanger label will follow a person for life.
—Jacqueline Serrato, chicagotribune.com, 13 Apr. 2018
His mother has told him to avoid the side streets where the gangbangers hang out.
—Mary Schmich, chicagotribune.com, 5 May 2018
John Annese, New York Daily News, 17 Apr. 2024
The group aspired to paint a fuller, more nuanced picture that went beyond the image of a gangbanger.
—Fidel Martinez, Los Angeles Times, 10 July 2023
Far from a gangbanger, Yarl was described later in a statement by North Kansas City School District Superintendent Dan Clemens as an excellent student and a talented musician who maintains a stellar GPA while taking mostly college-level courses — far from a criminal profile.
—Clarence Page, Chicago Tribune, 21 Apr. 2023
Puppet is probably the mark of the gangbanger who drew the X8.
—Adam Hadhazy, Discover Magazine, 26 Sep. 2012
The trajectory from gangbanger in South San Gabriel to city poet laureate and bestselling author would have been dramatic enough.
—Los Angeles Times, 1 Nov. 2022
Despite making up 18% of the U.S. population, the usual stereotypes of the gangbanger, the day laborer, the janitor, the maid, and the exotic Latina continue to be seen on the big screen.
—AZCentral.com, 15 Sep. 2021
The gangbanger label will follow a person for life.
—Jacqueline Serrato, chicagotribune.com, 13 Apr. 2018
His mother has told him to avoid the side streets where the gangbangers hang out.
—Mary Schmich, chicagotribune.com, 5 May 2018
Recent Examples of Synonyms for gangbanger
Noun
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Long maintaining that the protesters are just thugs, Najmeh painfully removes the rounds from Sadaf’s bleeding wounds, her assumptions about the government she’s loyally obeyed falling away.Tim Grierson, Los Angeles Times, 28 Nov. 2024
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The society of Iverson’s youth rendered him an unredeemable thug and jailed him for it as a minor.Marcus Thompson II, The Athletic, 22 Nov. 2024
Noun
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Rolling with the sound of Slo-Be Bryant 3, one of the great West Coast tapes of the 2020s, Slo-Be’s steely, ominous murmurs give his sentimental gangster rap the air of sorcery.Alphonse Pierre, Pitchfork, 9 Dec. 2024
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However, as the volatile gangster, the caregiver and bumbling daddy’s boy begin to plot and scheme, things don’t exactly go according to plan.Aramide Tinubu, Variety, 6 Dec. 2024
Noun
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Trump has said deportations will focus on criminals first, as immigration enforcement has since former President Barack Obama's presidency.Sarah D. Wire, USA TODAY, 8 Dec. 2024
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The film focuses on young Kevin McCallister (Macaulay Culkin) — who's accidentally left home alone over the holidays — and his clever plans to outwit a pair of criminals trying to rob his home on Christmas Eve.Athena Sobhan, People.com, 8 Dec. 2024
Noun
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Or even an appearance from Tom Holland’s Peter Parker that would mean two hours haven’t been wasted watching this forgettable origin tale of a villain who’s not really THAT bad.Brian Truitt, USA TODAY, 14 Dec. 2024
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Sony still had the film rights to multiple Spider-Man villains and side-characters, and thus, went to work building its own universe.Dani Di Placido, Forbes, 13 Dec. 2024
Noun
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Many others have expressed condemnation and voiced disgust with those showing support for the alleged assassin.Daniel R. Depetris, Newsweek, 14 Dec. 2024
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There was little chance The Day of the Jackal, Peacock and Sky’s remake of Fred Zinnemann’s classic 1973 thriller, was going to do its titular assassin dirty in the end, especially since it was already announced the hit series (now a Golden Globe nominee!) would be getting a second season.Nicholas Quah, Vulture, 12 Dec. 2024
Noun
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Guided by Kudrow’s Penelope, the bandits embarked on epic adventures while evil forces were an obstacle.Marc Berman, Forbes, 16 Sep. 2024
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The bagel at the base of her breakfast bandit has a direct connection to her youth: The dough is prepared daily at A&S Bagels in Franklin Square, N.Y., not far from the streets where Chersevani developed a taste for a bagel and schmear.Tim Carman, Washington Post, 25 July 2024
Thesaurus Entries Near gangbanger
Cite this Entry
“Gangbanger.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/gangbanger. Accessed 21 Dec. 2024.
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