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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Four Los Angeles County men tied to the gang MS-13 have been convicted of killing three people with machetes in the Angeles National Forest.—
Matthew Rodriguez,
CBS News,
5 June 2026
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Cameras captured not only the flames but the cheering by apparent gang members.—
Jacqueline Charles,
Miami Herald,
4 June 2026
Noun
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Allen argues that Junius was actually a syndicate of authors acting under Richmond’s general direction, with Paine and Burke among the principals.—
Adam Gopnik,
New Yorker,
8 June 2026
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Applying terrorism designations to criminal syndicates, Brazilian officials say, conflicts with domestic legal definitions and risks blurring distinctions underpinning international counterterrorism law.—
Antonio María Delgado,
Miami Herald,
1 June 2026
Noun
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Karen Read filed her lawsuit against Canton and the MSP not only to reveal shockingly obscene and racist text messages between key cops investigating her — but also to relitigate the defense theory of conspiracy to frame her.—
Flint McColgan,
Boston Herald,
7 June 2026
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Aliens on the loose, serial killer investigations, family conspiracies, abusive cults, and robots gone rogue are just a few scenarios guaranteed to grab your attention and spike your blood pressure…and they all can be found on the list below.—
Kevin Jacobsen,
Entertainment Weekly,
6 June 2026
Noun
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Protests were announced in Northern Ireland’s capital early in the day, with police urging participants to be calm, but Tuesday night saw mobs block streets, set fire to vehicles, and clash with police.—
Brady Knox,
The Washington Examiner,
9 June 2026
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Some left small locks of hair that would be enough to remember them by but would remain unfound when a mob came knocking on their door.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
8 June 2026
Noun
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The event consists of live music, competition events such as highland dancing and sheepdog trials, food vendors and educational classes on what Scottish clans are.—
Carlos Rico,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
8 June 2026
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Jenny Calendar has been revealed to be of gypsy descent, the same clan that cursed Angel with a soul, and she was sent to Sunnydale to monitor Angel—a secret that served as another wedge in her relationship with Giles, although the pair were moving toward reconciliation.—
ArsTechnica,
ArsTechnica,
7 June 2026
Noun
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The extent of the defensive network near its silos potentially sets China apart from the other major nuclear powers.—
Reuters,
NBC news,
29 May 2026
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The action, announced Thursday, came about after a security researcher reported the sprawling network to authorities.—
Dan Goodin,
ArsTechnica,
29 May 2026
Cite this Entry
“Mafia.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/Mafia. Accessed 12 Jun. 2026.
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