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

Synonyms & Similar Words

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Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of complicity Protests targeted Egyptian embassies abroad as demonstrators accused the Egyptian government of complicity in the blocking of aid. Mostafa Salem, CNN Money, 21 Aug. 2025 Houck, Rogers' boyfriend at the time of her disappearance and the father of her youngest child, was convicted of murder as a principal or accomplice and complicity to tampering with physical evidence in July. Killian Baarlaer, Louisville Courier Journal, 19 Aug. 2025 To the 24 Democrats who voted to stop our complicity, thank you. Elizabeth Shackelford, Chicago Tribune, 8 Aug. 2025 And part of Hogan’s legacy may be his complicity in those conditions. Brian Jansen, The Conversation, 7 Aug. 2025 See All Example Sentences for complicity
Recent Examples of Synonyms for complicity
Noun
  • The Bundys and several others in the vehicles were arrested and charged with multiple federal crimes, including conspiracy to impede federal officers.
    Nicole Blanchard, Idaho Statesman, 7 Sep. 2025
  • Julie and Todd were found guilty of conspiracy to commit bank fraud, conspiracy to defraud the United States and tax fraud in June 2022, while Julie was also found guilty of wire fraud.
    Rachel Raposas, PEOPLE, 7 Sep. 2025
Noun
  • Droney found there was no collusion, saying league officials presenting economic information to owners is not indicative of collusion.
    Michael McCann, Sportico.com, 2 Sep. 2025
  • In the United Kingdom, regulators warned that AI systems used in energy markets could unintentionally enable tacit collusion between suppliers.
    Gopinath Kathiresan, Forbes.com, 29 Aug. 2025
Noun
  • In addition, senior executives could be held personally liable when offences involve their consent, connivance or neglect.
    Jamie Hailstone, Forbes.com, 29 May 2025
  • The arrests were part of wide-ranging Establishment attacks on the new generation of pop stars in Britain at the time, done through connivance with informers and a hostile conservative media.
    Bill Wyman, Vulture, 30 Jan. 2025

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Cite this Entry

“Complicity.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/complicity. Accessed 8 Sep. 2025.

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