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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Recent Examples of thug
The second season is a heart-pumping succession of such intricate action scenes in which Park and Han enthusiastically battle both monsters and thugs.
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Joan MacDonald, Forbes, 27 Sep. 2024
The two end up on the run from National Security Forces, the Russian mob, and a group of clumsy street thugs and bikers led by a wannabe Mafia boss.
—Matt Grobar, Deadline, 1 July 2024
Powell helps McClane with advice and words of comfort as McClane faces off against terrorist Hans Gruber (Alan Rickman) and his band of thugs.
—Maureen Lee Lenker, EW.com, 25 Sep. 2024
Neville is being more immediately threatened by the developer’s local thug, Egg (David St. Louis), completely amoral and frightening but with a lovely singing voice.
—Robert Lloyd, Los Angeles Times, 14 Aug. 2024
See all Example Sentences for thug 
Joan MacDonald, Forbes, 27 Sep. 2024
The two end up on the run from National Security Forces, the Russian mob, and a group of clumsy street thugs and bikers led by a wannabe Mafia boss.
—Matt Grobar, Deadline, 1 July 2024
Powell helps McClane with advice and words of comfort as McClane faces off against terrorist Hans Gruber (Alan Rickman) and his band of thugs.
—Maureen Lee Lenker, EW.com, 25 Sep. 2024
Neville is being more immediately threatened by the developer’s local thug, Egg (David St. Louis), completely amoral and frightening but with a lovely singing voice.
—Robert Lloyd, Los Angeles Times, 14 Aug. 2024
See all Example Sentences for thug
Recent Examples of Synonyms for thug
Noun
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Many Japanese action films are too much about fantasy, either Yakuza [gangsters] or serial killers.Patrick Frater, Variety, 1 Nov. 2024
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Liam Neeson, in perhaps his final appearance in an action film, portrays a gangster trying to make amends.Randy Myers, The Mercury News, 30 Oct. 2024
Noun
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Its undeniably a humanitarian crisis and a very real security threat because of drug cartels, criminals and terrorists crossing the border.Kaitlyn Schallhorn, Orange County Register, 5 Nov. 2024
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The Jordanians will soar like eagles to hunt you down, one criminal after another.Ed Caesar, The New Yorker, 4 Nov. 2024
Noun
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Just weeks after closing out an incredibly dominant year in music, Rihanna was cast by some fans and members of the media as the villain and endlessly harassed by those who felt Brown did nothing wrong.Kyle Denis, Billboard, 19 Nov. 2024
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And thus is Cobra Kai Part 2’s biggest reveal with the return of a villain who has disdain for Kreese, LaRusso and Lawrence: the infamous Terry Silver (played by Thomas Griffith) and his ruthless Iron Dragons.Demetrius Patterson, The Hollywood Reporter, 18 Nov. 2024
Noun
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Nero is a cynical and surly assassin who is betrayed by his master and long-term ally.Anthony D'Alessandro, Deadline, 19 Nov. 2024
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Based on the classic 1971 novel of the same name, the series stars Eddie Redmayne as Jackal, an elusive lone assassin who makes a living carrying out hits.Monica Mercuri, Forbes, 1 Nov. 2024
Noun
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But the pandemic-era inflationary period played out unlike any other in history, and wealthy people made out like bandits.Allison Morrow, CNN, 31 Oct. 2024
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When the film starts, a cursed bandit of pirates led by Captain Barbossa (Geoffrey Rush) are aboard Sparrow’s former ship, the Black Pearl, and have kidnapped Turner’s love interest, Elizabeth Swann (Knightley).Yasmeen Hamadeh, People.com, 27 Oct. 2024
Noun
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Though Charles moves into Pacific View to smoke out the thief, Schur presents an ecosystem of distinct characters who have made fulfilling lives for themselves in this building.Aramide Tinubu, Variety, 21 Nov. 2024
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The thieves got away with jewelry, according to police.Aaron Katersky, ABC News, 20 Nov. 2024
Noun
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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
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The Chicago Crime Commission’s president was outraged when an Indiana prosecutor posed for a newspaper photographer with his arm around Dillinger earlier in 1934 while the hoodlum awaited trial for killing a police officer during a bank robbery.Ron Grossman, Chicago Tribune, 21 July 2024
Noun
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It was enacted during a time when pirates were kidnapping ambassadors from France, and was meant to promote goodwill on behalf of America.Tresa Baldas, Detroit Free Press, 12 Nov. 2024
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The vibe: Themes of fairs have expanded into pirate and celtic territory, like Gasparilla Pirate Fest in Florida and Pikes Peak Celtic Festival in Colorado.Analis Bailey, Axios, 3 Nov. 2024
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Cite this Entry
“Thug.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/thug. Accessed 28 Nov. 2024.
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