as in thugs
a violent, brutal person who is often a member of an organized gang
London bobbies clearing the streets of hooligans
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
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 hooligans
The actions of hooligans following the Knicks championship is inexcusable.
—
Voice Of The People,
New York Daily News,
17 June 2026
Not only were hooligans running riot every week, but the grounds weren’t fit for purpose, and attendances were locked into a sustained nosedive.
—
Richard Sutcliffe,
New York Times,
23 May 2026
But Bruce stands apart from his fellow hooligans.
—
Samantha Agate,
Miami Herald,
22 Apr. 2026
Passengers could only stare out the windows as about a dozen hooligans jumped atop the bus while others sprayed it with graffiti, including on the bus' windshield.
—
Peter D'abrosca,
FOXNews.com,
30 Mar. 2026
Violence in European soccer has subsided; English hooligans now seem almost quaint.
—
Ian Buruma,
New Yorker,
23 Feb. 2026
The cries mixed with disturbances, the chants of encouragement with shouts from the police and hooligans.
—
Esteban Campanela,
CNN Money,
25 Nov. 2025
Voice Of The People,
New York Daily News,
17 June 2026
Not only were hooligans running riot every week, but the grounds weren’t fit for purpose, and attendances were locked into a sustained nosedive.
—
Richard Sutcliffe,
New York Times,
23 May 2026
But Bruce stands apart from his fellow hooligans.
—
Samantha Agate,
Miami Herald,
22 Apr. 2026
Passengers could only stare out the windows as about a dozen hooligans jumped atop the bus while others sprayed it with graffiti, including on the bus' windshield.
—
Peter D'abrosca,
FOXNews.com,
30 Mar. 2026
Violence in European soccer has subsided; English hooligans now seem almost quaint.
—
Ian Buruma,
New Yorker,
23 Feb. 2026
The cries mixed with disturbances, the chants of encouragement with shouts from the police and hooligans.
—
Esteban Campanela,
CNN Money,
25 Nov. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for hooligans
Noun
-
The actions of these thugs, who should be imprisoned for a long while, is the cause of denying real Knicks fans the chance to watch the game communally.
-
People have committed suicide because a bunch of thugs went after them.
Noun
-
Supporters will argue that criminals should not be able to hide behind wallets.
-
And just like Alito, some members of my family have forgotten our history and support Trump or favor some of his immigration policies, dismissing new arrivals as criminals or lazy.
Noun
-
The 16 reputed gangsters or aspiring gangsters charged in the indictment range in age from 19 to 24.
-
Neither immigrant family should be linked to violent gangsters, of course.
Noun
-
Instead, most are romantic stories about young lovers separated by fate, and the rest are swashbuckling adventures full of bandits and pirates.
-
Fantastical adventures ensue as the pair encounter a mysterious woman, Alexandra, who has lost her son, along with coyotes, bandits, and some pretty big secrets.
Noun
-
Together, the band brings to life a mythic world of ancient heroes and villains, attracting an excited audience of headbangers and fantasy fanatics, many of whom show up in costume.
-
Animation fans were in for a very tasty treat, as the episode introduced villains and set the tone for the brutal show adapted from the best-selling Vertigo series by the late Anthony Bourdain, co-created with Joel Rose.
Cite this Entry
“Hooligans.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/hooligans. Accessed 7 Jul. 2026.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
