gestapo
noun
ge·sta·po
gə-ˈstä-(ˌ)pō 
plural gestapos
: a secret-police organization employing underhanded and terrorist methods against persons suspected of disloyalty
Examples of gestapo in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
He was assigned to the isis secret police—the caliphate’s gestapo—and tasked with arresting his former pro-democracy allies.
—
Anand Gopal, The New Yorker, 11 Mar. 2024
There are some remarkable performances, including an unforgettable portrayal by British actor Clifford Rose, who plays the ruthless and effective local gestapo chief Sturmbannführer Ludwig Kessler.
—The Editors, Outside Online, 4 Apr. 2020
His mother had fed some of the 500 Russian prisoners in the town and so was taken away by the gestapo.
—Brendan Leonard, Outside Online, 4 Oct. 2020
Cuba’s primal scream for liberty on July 11 has gone viral and exposed the grisly methods used by Cuba’s gestapo to keep the lid on dissent.
—Mary Anastasia O’Grady, WSJ, 25 July 2021
They’ve been smeared as the ‘gestapo’ for doing their jobs.
—John Haughey, Washington Examiner, 14 Dec. 2020
Kim denies that his work today is repentance for past sins as a member of Kim Jong-il’s data gestapo.
—Andy Greenberg, WIRED, 1 Mar. 2015
The gestapo believes the Allies have installed a spy close to Wilhelm, and Brandt is assigned the task of rooting him out.
—Gary Thompson, Philly.com, 5 July 2017
Anand Gopal, The New Yorker, 11 Mar. 2024
There are some remarkable performances, including an unforgettable portrayal by British actor Clifford Rose, who plays the ruthless and effective local gestapo chief Sturmbannführer Ludwig Kessler.
—The Editors, Outside Online, 4 Apr. 2020
His mother had fed some of the 500 Russian prisoners in the town and so was taken away by the gestapo.
—Brendan Leonard, Outside Online, 4 Oct. 2020
Cuba’s primal scream for liberty on July 11 has gone viral and exposed the grisly methods used by Cuba’s gestapo to keep the lid on dissent.
—Mary Anastasia O’Grady, WSJ, 25 July 2021
They’ve been smeared as the ‘gestapo’ for doing their jobs.
—John Haughey, Washington Examiner, 14 Dec. 2020
Kim denies that his work today is repentance for past sins as a member of Kim Jong-il’s data gestapo.
—Andy Greenberg, WIRED, 1 Mar. 2015
The gestapo believes the Allies have installed a spy close to Wilhelm, and Brandt is assigned the task of rooting him out.
—Gary Thompson, Philly.com, 5 July 2017
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'gestapo.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
Word History
Etymology
German, from Geheime Staatspolizei, literally, secret state police
First Known Use
1934, in the meaning defined above
Dictionary Entries Near gestapo
Cite this Entry
“Gestapo.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/gestapo. Accessed 19 Apr. 2024.
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More from Merriam-Webster on gestapo
Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about gestapo
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