as in conspiracy
a secret agreement or cooperation between two parties for an illegal or dishonest purpose
the two major auction houses acting in complicity to drive up the prices of art works
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Recent Examples of complicity
According to analysts, the growth of scam states has been rapid and systemic, driven by sophisticated technology, weak law enforcement, and political tolerance or complicity.
—
Chas Newkey-Burden, TheWeek, 4 Mar. 2026
The Alabama Solution is also a study of complicity.
—Scott Feinberg, HollywoodReporter, 3 Mar. 2026
There’s the sweeping angle of [Yasmin’s] complicity in her own exploitation, [with] the line of that being gossamer-thin with the idea of Haley being an escort, who’s chosen that life for herself.
—Chris O'Falt, IndieWire, 3 Mar. 2026
In 2018, the country passed a law that outlawed accusing Poland or the Polish people of complicity in Nazi crimes.
—Shira Li Bartov, Sun Sentinel, 2 Mar. 2026
See All Example Sentences for complicity
Chas Newkey-Burden, TheWeek, 4 Mar. 2026
The Alabama Solution is also a study of complicity.
—Scott Feinberg, HollywoodReporter, 3 Mar. 2026
There’s the sweeping angle of [Yasmin’s] complicity in her own exploitation, [with] the line of that being gossamer-thin with the idea of Haley being an escort, who’s chosen that life for herself.
—Chris O'Falt, IndieWire, 3 Mar. 2026
In 2018, the country passed a law that outlawed accusing Poland or the Polish people of complicity in Nazi crimes.
—Shira Li Bartov, Sun Sentinel, 2 Mar. 2026
See All Example Sentences for complicity
Recent Examples of Synonyms for complicity
Noun
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Taxstone, who pleaded guilty in September to conspiracy to possess contraband in prison, is scheduled to be sentenced April 29.—
John Annese,
New York Daily News,
29 Mar. 2026
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Ramirez is charged with first-degree robbery, sixth-degree larceny and sixth-degree conspiracy to commit larceny, according to Wethersfield police.—
Sean Krofssik,
Hartford Courant,
29 Mar. 2026
Noun
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Trump himself fueled much of the speculation and, in May 2017, abruptly fired the FBI director, James Comey, who was leading an investigation into the possible collusion.—
Jonathan Lemire,
The Atlantic,
21 Mar. 2026
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To make matters worse, in June, podcaster Pablo Torre disclosed the contents of an arbitration ruling stemming from a 2022 NFLPA collusion lawsuit that had been kept secret from the players and public.—
Justin Birnbaum,
Sportico.com,
17 Mar. 2026
Noun
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Individuals and groups have often accused the U.S. government of denying their rights, and some of those accusations were irrefutable—as in the century between Appomattox and Selma, when the rights of Black Americans were denied throughout the South with the connivance of Washington.—
George Packer,
The Atlantic,
27 Jan. 2026
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But widespread disgust with the mayor’s mendacity and the connivance of eight City Council members is changing the political landscape.—
U T Readers,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
2 Dec. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Complicity.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/complicity. Accessed 1 Apr. 2026.
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