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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This is the hilarious frogs-to-riches origin story of Jim Henson's beloved Muppet pals starring Kermit and the gang.—
Karen Cicero,
Parents,
5 Mar. 2026
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Gonzalez directed drug trafficking, violence and other criminal activities within 18th Street territory, including extortion and mediating gang disputes, according to the indictment.—
Brittny Mejia,
Los Angeles Times,
5 Mar. 2026
Noun
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Atterton wanted to use the hijacking as an opportunity to take out not only Sam but Bailey-Brown, removing any other trace of the Kingdom hijacking in the first season, and establishing his dominance over the Cheapside Firm, an international crime syndicate based in London.—
Barry Levitt,
Time,
4 Mar. 2026
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Recent Mexican history is riddled with the tales of once-powerful syndicates — gangs in Guadalajara, Tijuana and Ciudad Juárez, among them — that ruptured, were gobbled up by other mobs or petered out as the big guys were captured or killed.—
Kate Linthicum,
Los Angeles Times,
27 Feb. 2026
Noun
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When the conspiracy was uncovered, women were interrogated and punished.—
Ed Gaskin,
Boston Herald,
8 Mar. 2026
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This conspiracy goes all the way to the top.—
Bethy Squires,
Vulture,
8 Mar. 2026
Noun
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But, unlike Brooks, Hemphill had pleaded guilty to joining the angry mob of protesters.—
Maureen Groppe,
USA Today,
9 Mar. 2026
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Several of King's marches were attacked by White mobs, but LaFayette and Young challenged the notion that the Chicago movement was a failure.—
CBS News,
CBS News,
6 Mar. 2026
Noun
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Carl Jackson’s clan, though, would rather be chasing invasive Burmese pythons through the heart of Florida’s Big Cypress National Preserve.—
Dac Collins,
Outdoor Life,
5 Mar. 2026
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Every Catholic clan needs one silly-ass Jew (Ed) to lighten the mood.—
Emma Specter,
Vogue,
5 Mar. 2026
Noun
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Scott, founder of payment system Paywaz, said they were drawn by the scale of opportunity in the US, especially for entrepreneurship, with greater capital, specialist talent, larger markets, and faster networks than in New Zealand.—
Laura Sharman,
CNN Money,
7 Mar. 2026
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Soaring ratings transform him into an unlikely prophet for a network hungry for spectacle, in a world where outrage sells and attention is the ultimate currency.—
Cincinnati Enquirer,
Cincinnati Enquirer,
7 Mar. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Mafia.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/Mafia. Accessed 12 Mar. 2026.
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