as in thug
a violent, brutal person who is often a member of an organized gang
the short, violence-filled life of an inner-city gangsta
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Recent Examples of gangsta
Imagine a hardcore Black gangsta rapper going toe-to-toe with a wild-eyed white indie rock freak in makeup and shiny black leather pants, as the two repeatedly, gleefully, refer to one another using racial slurs.
—
Gil Kaufman, Billboard, 21 May 2024
Compared with Lower Delmas and G9 areas, the graffiti is less revolutionary, more West Coast gangsta; there are portraits of 2Pac and Ice Cube.
—Jason Motlagh, Rolling Stone, 26 Nov. 2023
Jefferson gives audiences just a brief taste of this manuscript, imagining a stereotypical conversation between two gangstas, played by Keith David and Okieriete Onaodowan.
—Peter Debruge, Variety, 9 Sep. 2023
The East Coast old guard bristled at dance and found the idea of Southern gangsta rap, and Southern women gangsta rappers, laughable.
—Zandria Robinson, Glamour, 2 Nov. 2021
See all Example Sentences for gangsta 
Gil Kaufman, Billboard, 21 May 2024
Compared with Lower Delmas and G9 areas, the graffiti is less revolutionary, more West Coast gangsta; there are portraits of 2Pac and Ice Cube.
—Jason Motlagh, Rolling Stone, 26 Nov. 2023
Jefferson gives audiences just a brief taste of this manuscript, imagining a stereotypical conversation between two gangstas, played by Keith David and Okieriete Onaodowan.
—Peter Debruge, Variety, 9 Sep. 2023
The East Coast old guard bristled at dance and found the idea of Southern gangsta rap, and Southern women gangsta rappers, laughable.
—Zandria Robinson, Glamour, 2 Nov. 2021
See all Example Sentences for gangsta
Recent Examples of Synonyms for gangsta
Noun
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Although the new government seems willing to listen to Alawite concerns, there’s a lingering resentment, with many pointing to the community’s complicity in torture and war crimes — whether in the security services or gangs of thugs known as the shabiha — over the 14 years of the conflict.—
Nabih Bulos,
Los Angeles Times,
23 Jan. 2025
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There was a time, not long ago, when men who lifted weights for fun were seen as either thugs or narcissists.—
Danielle Friedman,
New York Times,
15 Jan. 2025
Noun
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The bag has lots of money in it, the stranger is a violent gangster and Mady is soon on the run himself with a whole gang of bad guys after him.—
Murtada Elfadl,
Variety,
18 Jan. 2025
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The selection continues its genre focus with the Norwegian body horror The Ugly Stepsister, Turkish political thriller Confidante, and Taiwanese gangster narrative Silent Sparks.—
Scott Roxborough,
The Hollywood Reporter,
16 Jan. 2025
Noun
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Dave Chappelle not only touched on the L.A. County wildfires during his opening monologue on Saturday Night Live but also spoofed the evacuations by pretending to be a criminal with a whole lot to hide.—
Lynette Rice,
Deadline,
19 Jan. 2025
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It’s widely expected that the administration will first seek to deport criminals who are in this country illegally.—
David Lightman,
Sacramento Bee,
19 Jan. 2025
Noun
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His affinity for wrestling villains, or heels, adds another layer to his potential return.—
Gordon G. Chang,
Newsweek,
25 Jan. 2025
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Like Adeyemi/Emilia Pérez, The Brutalist could become the villain of the whole race if someone doesn’t intervene to stop it.—
Rebecca Alter,
Vulture,
23 Jan. 2025
Thesaurus Entries Near gangsta
Cite this Entry
“Gangsta.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/gangsta. Accessed 30 Jan. 2025.
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