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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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
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But Goldman’s syndicate desk knows little about retail.—
Jim Cramer,
CNBC,
31 May 2026
Noun
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Realizing he’s stumbled onto a global conspiracy, Zaminsky goes on the run after linking neighborhood satellite dishes to create an array relocating the alien signal.—
Jeff Spry,
Space.com,
31 May 2026
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Every late injury report becomes a conspiracy.—
Dan Zaksheske OutKick,
FOXNews.com,
31 May 2026
Noun
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The date was chosen because of its proximity to the anniversary of the Goetz shooting, as well as that of the 1986 killing of Michael Griffith, a young black man, after a white mob attacked him outside a pizza parlor in Howard Beach.—
Kevin Lozano,
Harpers Magazine,
2 June 2026
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His shoulders sagging beneath the weight of disbelief, Roch Cholowsky trudged toward the dugout rail, stealing glances at the jubilant Saint Mary’s mob flooding the diamond behind him.—
Ira Gorawara,
New York Times,
1 June 2026
Noun
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Publishers Coolabi Group and Chinese online giant Tencent Video have greenlit the series, adapted from Erin Hunter’s novels about battling clans of feral cats, which have sold more than 90 million copies worldwide.—
Scott Roxborough,
HollywoodReporter,
1 June 2026
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The warring factions of the silver-haired Targaryen clan, led by Rhaenyra (Emma D'Arcy) on Team Black and Aemond (Ewan Mitchell) on Team Green, are finally fully stocked with armies and fire-breathing weapons of mass destruction and ready to fight for the Iron Throne.—
Kelly Lawler,
USA Today,
1 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 6 Jun. 2026.
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