gangsters
Organized crime figures
Gangsters are members of criminal organizations, typically involved in activities like racketeering, drug trafficking, or extortion.
The term evokes organized crime figures of the Prohibition era—suited men with tommy guns—but applies broadly to anyone operating in a criminal gang: The neighborhood was controlled by local gangsters.
Gangster also works as an adjective: gangster rap, gangster movies.
Sicilian criminal organization
- omertàCriminal vow of silence
- consigliereMafia boss's trusted counselor
- underbossCriminal organization's deputy
- donPut on attire
godfather · made man · famiglia · capo · Sicilian · black hand · boss · associate
Conducting illegal business schemes
- extortionObtaining through threats
- bootleggingIllegal alcohol production/sale
- smugglingIllegal covert transport
- heistOrganized large-scale theft
robbery · laundering · fraud · embezzlement · conspiracy · felony · larceny · forgery
Declarations of intended harm
- coercionPressured compliance through threats
- muscleContractile body tissue
- enforcerOne who ensures compliance
- shakedownForceful extraction of payment
protection racket · turf · heavies · strongarm · kneecapping · cement shoes · sleeping with the fishes · baseball bat
Armed confrontation or tiebreaker
- drive-byAttack from passing vehicle
- hitSuccessful contact or strike
- assassinationMurder of a prominent figure
- executionCompleting a planned task
bloodshed · turf war · rubout · whacking · contract killing · ambush · Tommy gun · sawed-off shotgun
Illicit liquor establishment
- bootleggingIllegal alcohol production/sale
- moonshineIllegally distilled spirits
- rumrunnerProhibition alcohol smuggler
- CaponeNotorious Chicago crime boss
flapper · Roaring Twenties · bathtub gin · Chicago · G-men · Lucky Luciano · roadhouse · hooch
Armed robbers, often roving
- highwaymenArmed roadside robbers
- brigandsRoving armed robbers
- bushrangersAustralian rural outlaws
- desperadoesReckless criminal fugitives
fugitives · renegades · pirates · raiders · hoodlums · thugs · hooligans · ruffians
Cosa Nostra
Sicilian criminal organization
- omertàCriminal vow of silence
- consigliereMafia boss's trusted counselor
- underbossCriminal organization's deputy
don · godfather · made man · famiglia · capo · Sicilian · black hand · boss · associate · induction
racketeering
Conducting illegal business schemes
- extortionObtaining through threats
- bootleggingIllegal alcohol production/sale
- smugglingIllegal covert transport
heist · robbery · laundering · fraud · embezzlement · conspiracy · felony · larceny · forgery · kingpin
threats
Declarations of intended harm
- coercionPressured compliance through threats
- muscleContractile body tissue
- enforcerOne who ensures compliance
shakedown · protection racket · turf · heavies · strongarm · kneecapping · cement shoes · sleeping with the fishes · baseball bat · brass knuckles
shootout
Armed confrontation or tiebreaker
- drive-byAttack from passing vehicle
- hitSuccessful contact or strike
- assassinationMurder of a prominent figure
execution · bloodshed · turf war · rubout · whacking · contract killing · ambush · Tommy gun · sawed-off shotgun · machine gun
speakeasy
Illicit liquor establishment
- bootleggingIllegal alcohol production/sale
- moonshineIllegally distilled spirits
- rumrunnerProhibition alcohol smuggler
Capone · flapper · Roaring Twenties · bathtub gin · Chicago · G-men · Lucky Luciano · roadhouse · hooch · contraband
bandits
Armed robbers, often roving
- highwaymenArmed roadside robbers
- brigandsRoving armed robbers
- bushrangersAustralian rural outlaws
desperadoes · fugitives · renegades · pirates · raiders · hoodlums · thugs · hooligans · ruffians · toughs
- Roaring Twentiesflappers, Charleston, speakeasies, jazz age, Prohibition
- organized crimemafia, mob, the mob, syndicate, crime syndicate
- thugsthugs, goons, heavies, toughs, brutes
- crime historyorganized crime, trial records, criminal records, Al Capone, Bonnie and Clyde
- Illinois historyAbraham Lincoln, Chicago, Springfield, Chicago Fire, Great Chicago Fire
- New York historyEllis Island, Tammany Hall, Erie Canal, Brooklyn Bridge, Central Park
gangsterspolice officers
Sworn law enforcers
law enforcement · cops · detectives · FBI agents · prosecutors
gangstersheroes
Admired courageous figures
saints · do-gooders · Good Samaritans · pillars of the community · philanthropists
gangsterslone wolves
Solitary, self-reliant individuals
loners · independents · hermits · petty criminals · recluses
- gangster rapHip-hop depicting street crime
- gangster eraPeriod of organized crime dominance