as in gangs
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
Recent Examples of Synonyms for Mafias
Noun
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Some cultural differences slipped through their eyes, and New York gangs sometimes spoke like poets.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
22 Oct. 2025 -
Despite Luna establishing the Office of Constitutional Policing to root out deputy gangs, the county inspector general argued earlier this year that LASD had made no systemic effort to identify gang members within its ranks or investigate group misconduct.—
Jesse Hyde,
Rolling Stone,
21 Oct. 2025
Noun
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The United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime says Indonesia is a major drug smuggling hub despite having some of the strictest drug laws in the world, in part because international drug syndicates target its young population.—
CNN Money,
CNN Money,
22 Oct. 2025
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In the 2000s and 2010s, small funds and angel syndicates thrived.—
Roman Axelrod,
Fortune,
8 Oct. 2025
Noun
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Rudy, along with his boss, Bruiser, and her disheveled paralegal, Deck, uncover two connected conspiracies surrounding the mysterious death of their client’s son.—
Denise Petski,
Deadline,
23 Oct. 2025
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As other seemingly unconnected incidents start to happen around her (one friend goes missing, another is attacked), conspiracies are everywhere and Chloe must try to separate truth from fiction while fearing for her life.—
Kate Belli,
PEOPLE,
18 Oct. 2025
Noun
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In classical antiquity, the mountainous region was notorious for bandits; in modern times, blood feuds among clans were rife.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
22 Oct. 2025
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But Gaza is home to numerous clans and militant groups, with score-settling and criminality posing a threat to order in the Palestinian enclave, even after the ceasefire.—
Christian Orozco,
NBC news,
17 Oct. 2025
Noun
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Even if the networks elect to tap the brakes on gambling ads in the near term, coverage of the NBA will remain a bit of a contextual minefield as long as Rozier and Billups remain in the headlines.—
Anthony Crupi,
Sportico.com,
24 Oct. 2025
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Varese notes that these families used to have a strong hand in the drug business, but were forced out by bigger supplier networks, significantly limiting their power and reach, which explains their involvement in smaller enterprises like gambling rings.—
Time,
Time,
24 Oct. 2025
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“Mafias.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/Mafias. Accessed 29 Oct. 2025.
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