as in thug
a violent, brutal person who is often a member of an organized gang
London bobbies clearing the streets of hooligans
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Example Sentences
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
Read More
Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors.
Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of hooligan
There were also Amsterdam residents who were attacked by Maccabi hooligans.
—
Canaan Lidor, Sun Sentinel, 14 Nov. 2024
Banning orders — whereby passports have to be handed in before any England fixture abroad — have also been used to keep the hooligans away, while the Football Association insist tickets are only sold through the official supporters travel club.
—Richard Sutcliffe, The Athletic, 13 July 2024
Right-wing legislators and nationalist soccer hooligans held a heated demonstration outside the military court near the southern city of Ashkelon.
—Amos Harel, Foreign Affairs, 8 June 2016
Ticking off the Traction Control also allowed my inner hooligan to loft the front wheel a wee bit in first and second gear as the Kawasaki quickly built revs.
—William Roberson, Forbes, 26 Oct. 2024
See all Example Sentences for hooligan 
Canaan Lidor, Sun Sentinel, 14 Nov. 2024
Banning orders — whereby passports have to be handed in before any England fixture abroad — have also been used to keep the hooligans away, while the Football Association insist tickets are only sold through the official supporters travel club.
—Richard Sutcliffe, The Athletic, 13 July 2024
Right-wing legislators and nationalist soccer hooligans held a heated demonstration outside the military court near the southern city of Ashkelon.
—Amos Harel, Foreign Affairs, 8 June 2016
Ticking off the Traction Control also allowed my inner hooligan to loft the front wheel a wee bit in first and second gear as the Kawasaki quickly built revs.
—William Roberson, Forbes, 26 Oct. 2024
See all Example Sentences for hooligan
Recent Examples of Synonyms for hooligan
Noun
-
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
-
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
-
This legislation is a common-sense solution to protect property owners, hold criminals accountable and restore faith in the rule of law.—
Ryan Nawrocki,
Baltimore Sun,
19 Jan. 2025
-
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
-
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
-
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
-
At least 49 businesses have been robbed so far in the spree, according to the United Bodegas of America (UBA) trade group, which is offering a $5,000 bounty on the bandits.—
Michael Ruiz,
Fox News,
17 Jan. 2025
-
Several warring factions exist within the Zone, as well as lone bandits and stalkers.—
Issy van der Velde,
Rolling Stone,
20 Nov. 2024
Noun
-
His affinity for wrestling villains, or heels, adds another layer to his potential return.—
Gordon G. Chang,
Newsweek,
25 Jan. 2025
-
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
Noun
-
However, their dreams are threatened by the hoodlums in the Riverbottom Gang.—
EW.com,
EW.com,
30 Nov. 2024
-
While Muhammad Ali made his professional boxing comeback with a win against Jerry Quarry at Atlanta’s Municipal Auditorium on October 26, 1970, a group of hoodlums robbed the Black Mafia of more than $1 million in cash and jewelry at a nearby after-party.—
Bill Desowitz,
IndieWire,
6 Sep. 2024
Noun
-
He was dressed in a pirate’s costume at the time in July 2015, Monroe County deputies said.—
Howard Cohen,
Miami Herald,
24 Jan. 2025
-
But when he’s presumed dead after a tragic run-in with a pirate ship, our heroine is forced to take up with the spiteful Prince Humperdink—that is, until a masked man in black jumps in to save her.—
Gia Yetikyel,
Vogue,
24 Jan. 2025
Thesaurus Entries Near hooligan
Cite this Entry
“Hooligan.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/hooligan. Accessed 2 Feb. 2025.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share