as in gang
a group involved in secret or criminal activities
the local Mafia largely finances itself through extortion rackets and drug trafficking
Synonyms & Similar Words
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Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of Mafia
Presley’s friends in the Memphis Mafia were convinced that Elvis wanted to tour the world and blamed Parker’s fear of deportation.
—
Kim Willis, USA Today, 5 Aug. 2025
Latin Mafia’s appearance at Lollapalooza felt, to many, like a tribute to Latin music.
—Sophie Levenson, Chicago Tribune, 4 Aug. 2025
Swedish House Mafia plays the second weekend of Tomorrowland 2025 today.
—Katie Bain, Billboard, 25 July 2025
De Soto Music and shopping together The Rhythm & Roots Market will feature Superstar Mafia from 6:30 to 9:30 p.m. Friday, July 25, in Downtown DeSoto.
—Debra Skodack, Kansas City Star, 23 July 2025
See All Example Sentences for Mafia
Kim Willis, USA Today, 5 Aug. 2025
Latin Mafia’s appearance at Lollapalooza felt, to many, like a tribute to Latin music.
—Sophie Levenson, Chicago Tribune, 4 Aug. 2025
Swedish House Mafia plays the second weekend of Tomorrowland 2025 today.
—Katie Bain, Billboard, 25 July 2025
De Soto Music and shopping together The Rhythm & Roots Market will feature Superstar Mafia from 6:30 to 9:30 p.m. Friday, July 25, in Downtown DeSoto.
—Debra Skodack, Kansas City Star, 23 July 2025
See All Example Sentences for Mafia
Recent Examples of Synonyms for Mafia
Noun
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Although Nikki, who has a knack for DIY mechanical engineering, is able to furnish the gang with new gadgets, their plans pretty much always come down to almost getting eaten by some enormous otherworldly creature before being rescued at the last possible millisecond by El’s telekinesis.—
Angie Han,
HollywoodReporter,
23 Apr. 2026
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The Mexican Mafia, described as the largest and most powerful gang operating from inside state prisons, controls gangs throughout Southern California.—
Brittny Mejia,
Los Angeles Times,
23 Apr. 2026
Noun
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The story follows the remnants of the global spy agency Citadel, which was destroyed by the powerful syndicate Manticore.—
Arushi Jacob,
Variety,
22 Apr. 2026
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Then, in late December, PowerSchool received a series of threatening messages claiming to be from a global cybercrime syndicate.—
Mike Levine,
ABC News,
14 Apr. 2026
Noun
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The action film stars Bob Odenkirk as a small town sheriff who stumbles on a larger conspiracy following a local bank robbery.—
Brent Lang,
Variety,
19 Apr. 2026
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Defendants face charges under the Freedom of Access to Clinic Entrances Act and conspiracy statutes and are accused of intimidating worshippers and disrupting religious services.—
Kaelan Deese,
The Washington Examiner,
19 Apr. 2026
Noun
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The liberal media, members of the woke mob, and plenty within the Cubs’ fanbase took exception to the then-rookie missing one regular-season game a year ago to honor his late friend, days after he was brutally murdered in front of the entire world.—
Mark Harris OutKick,
FOXNews.com,
21 Apr. 2026
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The moment the plane landed, a mob poured onto the runway and began chasing it by jeep, by motorbike, and on foot.—
Louis Menand,
New Yorker,
13 Apr. 2026
Noun
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Because of their large families and the nature of their viral content, Smith and Neeleman both tend to get cited in conversations about a conservative cultural resurgence; in 2024, Nara and Lucky Blue Smith even took their kids to visit the Neeleman clan in Kamus, Utah.—
Erin Vanderhoof,
Vanity Fair,
20 Apr. 2026
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The James clan has the chance to add another chapter to its family lore this month, thanks to Bronny's growth into a player that all of the Los Angeles Lakers can trust.—
ABC News,
ABC News,
16 Apr. 2026
Noun
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Tong referenced an expose on CNN that revealed a network of websites and group chats on platforms like Telegram in which men uploaded videos of drugging and raping their wives and advised others how to do the same.—
Emilia Otte,
Hartford Courant,
24 Apr. 2026
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During the event, Vietnam’s deputy minister of industry and trade, Nguyen Sinh Nhat Tan, highlighted how FedEx’s global footprint would complement Viettel Post’s domestic network to ultimately enhance Vietnam’s ability to scale exports worldwide.—
Glenn Taylor,
Footwear News,
24 Apr. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Mafia.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/Mafia. Accessed 26 Apr. 2026.
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