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
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Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of thug
Yes, that is Canet playing the paragliding avenger, Franck, who’s trying to free his abducted pregnant wife, Léo (Stéphane Caillard), from a blackmailing thug.
—
Elisabeth Vincentelli, New York Times, 10 Jan. 2025
The bowling aficionado then embarks on a dangerous quest with his bowling pals that sees him tussle with thugs, meet the real Big Lebowski, hide ransom money in his car, and most importantly, bowl.
—EW.com, 8 Jan. 2025
Several journalists were beaten by police, and media workers accused authorities of using thugs to deter people from attending anti-government rallies, which Georgian Dream denies.
—Sophiko Megrelidze, Los Angeles Times, 15 Dec. 2024
Several journalists were beaten by police and media workers accused authorities of using thugs to deter people from attending anti-government rallies, which Georgian Dream denies.
—Sophiko Megrelidze, Los Angeles Times, 29 Dec. 2024
See all Example Sentences for thug 
Elisabeth Vincentelli, New York Times, 10 Jan. 2025
The bowling aficionado then embarks on a dangerous quest with his bowling pals that sees him tussle with thugs, meet the real Big Lebowski, hide ransom money in his car, and most importantly, bowl.
—EW.com, 8 Jan. 2025
Several journalists were beaten by police, and media workers accused authorities of using thugs to deter people from attending anti-government rallies, which Georgian Dream denies.
—Sophiko Megrelidze, Los Angeles Times, 15 Dec. 2024
Several journalists were beaten by police and media workers accused authorities of using thugs to deter people from attending anti-government rallies, which Georgian Dream denies.
—Sophiko Megrelidze, Los Angeles Times, 29 Dec. 2024
See all Example Sentences for thug
Recent Examples of Synonyms for thug
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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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
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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
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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His villains include both Presidents Bush; his heroes stretch back to William McKinley but include Richard Nixon, who raised tariffs in response to low-cost manufacturing from Asia, and, Lighthizer insists, Ronald Reagan.—
Benjamin Wallace-Wells,
The New Yorker,
23 Jan. 2025
Noun
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Peter and Rose are then tossed into a world of conspiracy involving White House officials, a metro bombing, assassins, the vice president's daughter, and Peter's own father — who, according to official record, was a traitor to his country.—
Ashley Boucher,
EW.com,
23 Jan. 2025
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The assassins were working for Gordon Wick (Ben Cotton), the real culprit behind the DC Metro bombing along with Vice President Redfield (Christopher Shyer).—
Proma Khosla,
IndieWire,
21 Jan. 2025
Noun
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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
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Several warring factions exist within the Zone, as well as lone bandits and stalkers.—
Issy van der Velde,
Rolling Stone,
20 Nov. 2024
Noun
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Early on Saturday morning, thieves blew open the door of the Drents Museum in the Netherlands and stole priceless gold artifacts, including an ancient, crown-like helmet on loan from a Bucharest museum for a traveling exhibit, reports NL Times.—
The Editors of ARTnews,
ARTnews.com,
27 Jan. 2025
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He’s tasked with mentoring a crack team of young detectives to hunt down an elusive gang of thieves that has been running circles around law enforcement.—
Naman Ramachandran,
Variety,
27 Jan. 2025
Noun
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However, their dreams are threatened by the hoodlums in the Riverbottom Gang.—
EW.com,
EW.com,
30 Nov. 2024
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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
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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
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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
Thesaurus Entries Near thug
Cite this Entry
“Thug.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/thug. Accessed 1 Feb. 2025.
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