as in thug
a violent, brutal person who is often a member of an organized gang
a couple of hoodlums held up the convenience store
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Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of hoodlum
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
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
As Velma Davis, she and scene partner Gene Wilder, in his big screen debut, portrayed two young lovebirds who, while kissing on their front porch, notice that a group of hoodlums is stealing Eugene’s car.
—Greg Evans, Deadline, 20 June 2024
Critics refer to the kids who covered the iconic Beaux Arts-style building as vandals and hoodlums.
—Phoebe Wall Howard, Detroit Free Press, 7 June 2024
See All Example Sentences for hoodlum
Bill Desowitz, IndieWire, 6 Sep. 2024
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
As Velma Davis, she and scene partner Gene Wilder, in his big screen debut, portrayed two young lovebirds who, while kissing on their front porch, notice that a group of hoodlums is stealing Eugene’s car.
—Greg Evans, Deadline, 20 June 2024
Critics refer to the kids who covered the iconic Beaux Arts-style building as vandals and hoodlums.
—Phoebe Wall Howard, Detroit Free Press, 7 June 2024
See All Example Sentences for hoodlum
Recent Examples of Synonyms for hoodlum
Noun
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Jewish people in the U.S. have adopted a position of ‘support Netanyahu and his thugs irrespective of the political cost’ approach.—
Chris Stirewalt,
The Hill,
14 Mar. 2025
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The thug in the seat next to him had 14 prior arrests and went by the name of killer.—
NPR,
NPR,
5 Mar. 2025
Noun
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An hour ago, the stocky British actor best known on these shores for playing tough guys and gangsters was on a morning talk show, after having chatted with Jimmy Fallon the previous evening.—
David Fear,
Rolling Stone,
22 Mar. 2025
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Dealing with the fractious relationship between gangsters and former friends Frank Costello and Vito Genovese, the film strains for an epic quality that the filmmaking doesn’t support.—
Frank Scheck,
The Hollywood Reporter,
19 Mar. 2025
Noun
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There were radicals, activists, intellectuals as well as common criminals, the usual power brokers, and always a mob lurking in the background.—
Phil Terrana,
Baltimore Sun,
20 Mar. 2025
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The company entices the criminal to click on a tracking link, which provides information about their location.—
Rachel Hale,
USA TODAY,
20 Mar. 2025
Noun
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There are no villains or scary scenes in this gentle story about a young witch finding her way in the world.—
Anna Earl,
Parents,
26 Mar. 2025
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As previously announced, Robert Downey Jr. will be back as the villain Doctor Doom instead of Iron Man.—
Michaela Zee,
Variety,
26 Mar. 2025
Noun
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Want to try and take on a bandit camp but don’t want to risk dying?—
George Yang,
Rolling Stone,
3 Feb. 2025
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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
Cite this Entry
“Hoodlum.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/hoodlum. Accessed 29 Mar. 2025.
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