gun for hire
Contract murder specialist
A gun for hire is a person who kills for money—a mercenary or assassin.
The phrase evokes Old West imagery of gunslingers selling their services to the highest bidder.
It extends to anyone who offers professional skills without loyalty to a cause: She's a gun for hire—she'll consult for whoever pays.
The term often carries connotations of moral flexibility or ruthlessness.
- mercenarySoldier fighting for pay
- assassinPaid murderer of targets
- hitmanProfessional paid murderer
- contract killerPaid professional murderer
- bountyReward for capture
contract · killer · sniper · lone wolf · target · trigger · pull the trigger · scope · silencer · shadow · no questions asked · payment · blood money · dirty work · professional · cold-blooded · plausible deniability · underworld
- hired fightersmercenary, soldier of fortune, sellsword, condottiere, Hessians
- hired killersassassin, hitman, sicario, contract killer, professional killer
- underlingsunderling, underlings, subordinate, minions, minion
gun for hirevigilante
Extralegal justice-seeker
crusader · freedom fighter · avenger · true believer · martyr
gun for hirepolice officer
Law enforcement agent
soldier · deputy · constable · federal agent · state trooper
gun for hireloyalist
Faithful supporter of authority
sworn protector · faithful servant · die-hard · man-at-arms · retainer
gun, hire, guns, gunned, gunning, gunner, gunners, gunnery, hired