vigilantes
Unauthorized justice seekers
Vigilantes are people who take law enforcement into their own hands, pursuing and punishing suspected criminals without legal authority.
The term carries connotations of mob justice and extrajudicial violence: Vigilantes lynched the accused horse thief before he could stand trial.
Modern usage sometimes extends to neighborhood watch groups or citizens who expose wrongdoers online, though these milder forms blur the word's original sense of violent self-appointed justice.
Boldness before danger
- courageFortitude facing danger
- heroismExceptional courage under duress
- selflessConcerned with others' welfare
- sacrificeGiving up something precious
noble · righteous · defender · guardian · savior · champion · crusader · avenger
Crowd executing without trial
- posseArmed group pursuing fugitives
- crowdLarge public gathering
- gangOrganized criminal group
- rabbleDisorderly, noisy crowd
horde · pitchforks · manhunt · pursuit · bounty · wanted poster · frontier · Wild West
Not bound by rules
- outlawFugitive from justice
- renegadeDeserter of a cause
- maverickIndependent-minded rule-breaker
- unsanctionedNot officially permitted
underground · shadow · clandestine · rogue · unauthorized · self-appointed · unaccountable · due process
Building security guard
- sentinelGuard who monitors
- patrolRegular surveillance route
- neighborhood watchResident-led area surveillance
- guardianProtective caretaker of another
escort · safeguard · bodyguard · lookout · beat · rounds · community · citizen patrol
Punishment for wrongdoing
- punishmentPenalty for an offense
- vengeanceRetaliation for injury
- paybackRetaliation for wrongs
- retaliationPunitive response to injury
comeuppance · wrath · reprisal · nemesis · avenger · punisher · counterstrike · redress
Gotham's masked vigilante
- PunisherLethal vigilante antihero
- ZorroMasked vigilante with blade
- Robin HoodLegendary forest-dwelling archer
- Kick-AssTeen vigilante superhero story
Rorschach · Green Arrow · Spider-Man · comic book · antihero · cape · cowl · alter ego
bravery
Boldness before danger
- courageFortitude facing danger
- heroismExceptional courage under duress
- selflessConcerned with others' welfare
sacrifice · noble · righteous · defender · guardian · savior · champion · crusader · avenger · paladin
lynch mob
Crowd executing without trial
rabble · horde · pitchforks · manhunt · pursuit · bounty · wanted poster · frontier · Wild West · Old West
lawless
Not bound by rules
unsanctioned · underground · shadow · clandestine · rogue · unauthorized · self-appointed · unaccountable · due process · kangaroo court
watchman
Building security guard
- sentinelGuard who monitors
- patrolRegular surveillance route
- neighborhood watchResident-led area surveillance
guardian · escort · safeguard · bodyguard · lookout · beat · rounds · community · citizen patrol · crime prevention
retribution
Punishment for wrongdoing
- punishmentPenalty for an offense
- vengeanceRetaliation for injury
- paybackRetaliation for wrongs
retaliation · comeuppance · wrath · reprisal · nemesis · avenger · punisher · counterstrike · redress · feud
Batman
Gotham's masked vigilante
- PunisherLethal vigilante antihero
- ZorroMasked vigilante with blade
- Robin HoodLegendary forest-dwelling archer
Kick-Ass · Rorschach · Green Arrow · Spider-Man · comic book · antihero · cape · cowl · alter ego · origin story
- heroeshero, heroes, heroine, heroines, superhero
- Westernscowboys, western, outlaws, sheriffs, western novels
- Wild Westcowboy, howdy, sheriff, giddyup, lawmen
- comic book elementssuperheroes, villains, sidekicks, alter egos, secret identities
- frontierfrontier, pioneer, pioneers, settlers, settler
- hero tropesaction heroes, chosen one, superheroes, hero's journey, reluctant hero
vigilantespolice officers
Sworn law enforcers
law enforcement · cops · deputies · officers · sheriffs
- vigilante justiceUnauthorized punishment by civilians
- masked vigilanteConcealed identity crime-fighter
- be vigilantMaintain careful awareness
- vigilante groupUnauthorized civilian law enforcement