as in gang
a group involved in secret or criminal activities
the local Mafia largely finances itself through extortion rackets and drug trafficking
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Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of Mafia
Snuffy is the nickname of Manuel Quintero, alleged by Los Angeles County prosecutors to be a member of the Mexican Mafia, a group of about 140 men who rule over Southern California’s Latino street gangs.
—
Matthew Ormseth, Los Angeles Times, 29 June 2025
Cockney con man Michael Caine, recently released from the clink, puts together a truly ludicrous heist to steal $4 million in Mafia gold bullion from the middle of Turin using Mini Coopers.
—Bilge Ebiri, Vulture, 27 June 2025
Pulled along by Valérie like a recalcitrant puppy, Richard sets off on a quest to find the missing man, who may have ties to the Sicilian Mafia.
—The New Yorker, New Yorker, 25 June 2025
Seven people were indicted in connection to the ‘largest jewelry heist in U.S. history.’
19 people were charged in an alleged Mexican Mafia conspiracy to kill L.A. rap artist.
—Jaclyn Cosgrove, Los Angeles Times, 21 June 2025
See All Example Sentences for Mafia
Matthew Ormseth, Los Angeles Times, 29 June 2025
Cockney con man Michael Caine, recently released from the clink, puts together a truly ludicrous heist to steal $4 million in Mafia gold bullion from the middle of Turin using Mini Coopers.
—Bilge Ebiri, Vulture, 27 June 2025
Pulled along by Valérie like a recalcitrant puppy, Richard sets off on a quest to find the missing man, who may have ties to the Sicilian Mafia.
—The New Yorker, New Yorker, 25 June 2025
Seven people were indicted in connection to the ‘largest jewelry heist in U.S. history.’
19 people were charged in an alleged Mexican Mafia conspiracy to kill L.A. rap artist.
—Jaclyn Cosgrove, Los Angeles Times, 21 June 2025
See All Example Sentences for Mafia
Recent Examples of Synonyms for Mafia
Noun
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America's brave men and women are removing murderers, MS-13 gang members, pedophiles, rapists—truly the worst of the worst from Golden State communities.—
James Bickerton,
MSNBC Newsweek,
12 July 2025
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The gangs also received backing from other criminal groups operating in Port-au-Prince— particularly the gangs from Canaan, Grand Ravine and Village de Dieu.—
Jacqueline Charles
July 11,
Miami Herald,
11 July 2025
Noun
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The drama from showrunners J.J. Abrams and LaToya Morgan starred Josh Holloway as a getaway driver working for an Arizona crime syndicate and Rachel Hilson as an FBI agent.—
James Hibberd,
HollywoodReporter,
9 July 2025
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Set in the Southwest in the 1972, Duster tells the story of the FBI’s first Black woman agent, Nina Hayes, played by Rachel Hilson, who will have to overcome many obstacles to stop a crime syndicate.—
Maelle Beauget-Uhl,
Forbes.com,
2 July 2025
Noun
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One co-conspirator was charged with obstruction of justice and conspiracy for attempting to conceal and destroy evidence and faces up to 10 years in prison, The Center Square reported.—
Bethany Blankley,
The Washington Examiner,
11 July 2025
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Worse, she’s being painted as a de facto Deep State operative in an administration obsessed with Deep State conspiracies lurking under every desk.—
Pat Beall,
Sun Sentinel,
11 July 2025
Noun
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Two years after the Goetz incident, a white mob in the Italian American enclave of Howard Beach in New York chased 23-year-old Michael Griffith and two friends, all Black, and beat Griffith to death for simply being in their neighborhood.—
Robert Chiarito,
Chicago Tribune,
14 July 2025
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Summer brings out the worst of its food scene (overhyped openings, influencer mobs, patios with no shade and even less finesse), as well as the very best: smoky tacos on the Westside, rooftop bars with actual personality, and high-falutin’ hotspots that are still worth the chase.—
Lela London,
Forbes.com,
14 July 2025
Noun
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These are Baptism of Fire, The Tower of the Swallow, and Lady of the Lake. Baptism of Fire sees Geralt caught between two warring clans, and Ciri join a group of thieves called The Rats.—
Griff Griffin,
MSNBC Newsweek,
26 June 2025
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The Miller clan, led by its head huncho Master P, were there to dominate everything from music to business in a way that had never been done before from southern artists (or MOST artists in fact).—
Kimberly Wilson,
Essence,
26 June 2025
Noun
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For the first time since Nielsen began tracking TV use by platform four years ago — and probably the first time ever, considering broadcast’s dominant place for much of television history — over-the-air networks accounted for less than 20 percent of viewing in June.—
Rick Porter,
HollywoodReporter,
15 July 2025
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News Politics Growing food fridge network to combat Baltimore’s long-standing scarcity PUBLISHED: July 15, 2025 at 5:00 AM EDT Volunteers launched the Bmore Community Fridge Network to help neighbors struggling with food insecurity access healthy options in food deserts.—
Gabriella Fine,
Baltimore Sun,
15 July 2025
Cite this Entry
“Mafia.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/Mafia. Accessed 24 Jul. 2025.
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