desperados
Reckless wanted criminals
Desperados is the plural of desperado—a reckless outlaw or bandit, especially in the American West or in stories set there.
The word evokes images of wanted men, stagecoach robberies, and frontier lawlessness: The sheriff tracked the desperados across the desert.
The Spanish-flavored plural desperadoes also appears.
Armed robbers, often roving
- gunslingersFast-drawing frontier fighters
- highwaymenArmed roadside robbers
- brigandsRoving armed robbers
- rustlersThose who steal livestock
raiders · marauders · gang · posse · bounty · wanted · manhunt · hideout
Drinking establishment, often frontier
- sheriffCounty's chief officer
- gunfightArmed combat with firearms
- showdownDecisive final confrontation
- frontierEdge of settlement
canyon · badlands · dusty · horseback · six-shooter · revolver · spur · saddlebag
Reckless risk-taker
- audaciousRecklessly or disrespectfully fearless
- brazenShamelessly bold
- fearlessLacking any apprehension
- boldCourageous and daring
rash · foolhardy · impetuous · hotheaded · gung-ho · death-defying · risk-taker · kamikaze
Dishonest, unscrupulous person
- villainWicked story antagonist
- renegadeDeserter of a cause
- cutthroatViciously competitive or murderous
- blackguardContemptible, dishonest person
ne'er-do-well · knave · scalawag · miscreant · ruthless · cunning · treacherous · scheming
bandits
Armed robbers, often roving
- gunslingersFast-drawing frontier fighters
- highwaymenArmed roadside robbers
- brigandsRoving armed robbers
rustlers · raiders · marauders · gang · posse · bounty · wanted · manhunt · hideout · ambush
saloon
Drinking establishment, often frontier
frontier · canyon · badlands · dusty · horseback · six-shooter · revolver · spur · saddlebag · tumbleweed
daredevil
Reckless risk-taker
- audaciousRecklessly or disrespectfully fearless
- brazenShamelessly bold
- fearlessLacking any apprehension
bold · rash · foolhardy · impetuous · hotheaded · gung-ho · death-defying · risk-taker · kamikaze · hell-bent
scoundrel
Dishonest, unscrupulous person
- villainWicked story antagonist
- renegadeDeserter of a cause
- cutthroatViciously competitive or murderous
blackguard · ne'er-do-well · knave · scalawag · miscreant · ruthless · cunning · treacherous · scheming · unscrupulous
desperadoslawmen
Official crime fighters
sheriffs · police officers · marshals · deputies · constables
desperadospillars of the community
Respected, influential local figures
gentlemen · townspeople · settlers · homesteaders · churchgoers