as in thug
a violent, brutal person who is often a member of an organized gang
Al Capone remains one of the most notorious gangsters in American history
Synonyms & Similar Words
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Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of gangster
As viewers have seen throughout the series so far, Harry has, indeed, engaged in all manner of dubious behavior on behalf of his Irish gangster boss, perpetrating violence and manipulation that even some of the Harrigans wouldn’t do.
—
Kimberly Roots, TVLine, 8 May 2025
As is the norm in the ’90s, L.A. rapper Tone Loc is part of the cast as a gangster from around the way named Frog.
—Alphonse Pierre, Pitchfork, 9 May 2025
In 1979, when Carmine Galante, the head of the Bonanno crime family, was killed, the photographer Hal Goldenberg hoofed it up onto a roof in Brooklyn to get a shot of the gangster’s cooling corpse.
—Vinson Cunningham, New Yorker, 5 May 2025
The various factions all converge as Walker negotiates a rendezvous with the extremely wary Mia, which is interrupted by dirty cops, followed by wave upon wave of gun- and blade-wielding Chinese gangsters.
—David Rooney, HollywoodReporter, 24 Apr. 2025
See All Example Sentences for gangster
Kimberly Roots, TVLine, 8 May 2025
As is the norm in the ’90s, L.A. rapper Tone Loc is part of the cast as a gangster from around the way named Frog.
—Alphonse Pierre, Pitchfork, 9 May 2025
In 1979, when Carmine Galante, the head of the Bonanno crime family, was killed, the photographer Hal Goldenberg hoofed it up onto a roof in Brooklyn to get a shot of the gangster’s cooling corpse.
—Vinson Cunningham, New Yorker, 5 May 2025
The various factions all converge as Walker negotiates a rendezvous with the extremely wary Mia, which is interrupted by dirty cops, followed by wave upon wave of gun- and blade-wielding Chinese gangsters.
—David Rooney, HollywoodReporter, 24 Apr. 2025
See All Example Sentences for gangster
Recent Examples of Synonyms for gangster
Noun
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That theft is believed to have led to the brazen kidnapping in suburban Connecticut of the parents of one of Lam’s alleged co-conspirators by a crew of thugs from Florida who prosecutors say planned to hold the parents for ransom from their newly rich son.—
Dan Mangan,
CNBC,
15 May 2025
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Their reckless, soft-on-crime policies emboldened criminals and thugs; wreaked havoc on the sanctity of our homes, businesses, and public spaces; instilled fear; and jeopardized public trust.—
Jenna deJong,
MSNBC Newsweek,
15 May 2025
Noun
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Or even those Californians, such as many in San Francisco and Los Angeles, who are just fed up with the perception that California is soft on criminals.—
Anita Chabria,
Los Angeles Times,
31 May 2025
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The Forgotten Gender Nonconformists of the Old West Livia Gershon April 27, 2018 In the Old West, cross-dressing was sometimes a disguise for criminals on the lam.—
The Editors,
JSTOR Daily,
30 May 2025
Noun
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But the new villain is smarter than the IMF assumed, and the mission has disastrous results.—
Keith Langston,
People.com,
24 May 2025
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Of course, everyone has their own favorite Bond villain.—
EW.com,
EW.com,
24 May 2025
Noun
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But after a bandit attack leaves the children orphaned, the son dies.—
Clare Mulroy,
USA Today,
25 May 2025
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To make matters worse, it is hosted by former Family Feud kissing bandit Richard Dawson (who, let the record show, is a fantastic movie villain).—
EW.com,
EW.com,
23 May 2025
Noun
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King Shrewd secretly trains young Fitz as an assassin, harnessing his ancestral magic.—
Clare Mulroy,
USA Today,
25 May 2025
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Those were the final words uttered by Emperor Uriel Septum—played by none other than Star Trek's Patrick Stewart—before an assassin leaped out of the shadows to cut him down.—
PC Magazine,
PC Magazine,
22 May 2025
Noun
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Netflix Inc—stock up 33% Lilyhammer, the story of a New York mobster relocating to Norway, was Netflix’s first original.—
Christian Stadler,
Forbes.com,
14 May 2025
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The series parodies the tropes of mobster dramas, comically combining elements of characters like Yogi Bear with series like The Sopranos.—
Denise Petski,
Deadline,
8 May 2025
Cite this Entry
“Gangster.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/gangster. Accessed 4 Jun. 2025.
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