desperado

noun

Definition of desperadonext
as in bandit
old-fashioned a violent criminal who is not afraid of getting hurt or caught A documentary about some notorious desperados of the Wild West.

Synonyms & Similar Words

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

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 desperado Actually, the two would-be desperadoes might have fared better going up against the late, great action star. — Joe Leydon, Variety, 3 Aug. 2023 The series revival, based Elmore Leonard’s novel City Primeval: High Noon in Detroit, has Givens on a collision course with Clement Mansell — aka The Oklahoma Wildman — a desperado played by Boyd Holbrook, who’s already eluded a Motor City police task force on his heels. — Etan Vlessing, The Hollywood Reporter, 31 May 2023 The Oklahoma Wildman, a violent, sociopathic desperado who's already slipped through the fingers of Detroit's finest once and aims to do so again with the help of his formidable lawyer Carolyn Wilder (Aunjanue Ellis). — Sydney Bucksbaum, EW.com, 11 May 2023 The lore of Arizona includes everything from Native stories to supernatural occurrences to tales of desperados. — Thomas France, The Arizona Republic, 3 Apr. 2023 See All Example Sentences for desperado
Recent Examples of Synonyms for desperado
  1. bandit
  2. villain
  3. monster
  4. beast
Noun
  • Want to try and take on a bandit camp but don’t want to risk dying?
    — George Yang, Rolling Stone, 3 Feb. 2025
  • Matt Dillon as Bob Hughes, lead junkie bandit of Drugstore Cowboy would also slot right in now, as would the late River Phoenix as conflicted hustler Mike Waters in Idaho.
    — Matt Thompson, SPIN, 3 Feb. 2025
Definition of bandit
Noun
  • In the comics, Sinestro starts off as a member of the Green Lantern Corp, eventually becoming a villain and starting his own Sinestro Corp.
    — Mark Davis, Newsweek, 14 Mar. 2025
  • The real villains, says Mozaffarian, are excessive amounts of refined grains, starches, and sugars, as well as salt and other preservatives, chemical additives, and contaminants from packaging.
    — Sarah Boden, NPR, 14 Mar. 2025
Definition of villain
Noun
  • Potgieter is usually a monster off the tee, leading the tour in driving distance coming into the week.
    — Tommy Tuberville, Newsweek, 7 Mar. 2025
  • The soldiers, both in the streets and at guard posts, fired their weapons, trying to prevent the moon from being eaten by a mythical monster frog called Reahou.
    — Joe Rao, Space.com, 6 Mar. 2025
Definition of monster
Noun
  • The music inspires its creatures, and vice versa — like the Altamaha-ha, a legendary water beast that hails from stories told around the Altamaha River in Georgia.
    — Nick Romano, EW.com, 6 Mar. 2025
  • At his peak, Bosa was a beast to keep out of opponents’ backfields.
    — Mirjam Swanson, Orange County Register, 6 Mar. 2025
Definition of beast

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Cite this Entry

“Desperado.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/desperado. Accessed 19 Mar. 2025.

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