BLACK MARKET Synonyms: 53 Similar and Opposite Words

black market 1 of 2

noun

Definition of black market

as in trade

a system through which things are bought and sold illegally The black market in prescription drugs is thriving. They unloaded the stolen goods on the black market.

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black-market

2 of 2

verb

as in to smuggle

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Dissimilar Words

Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

Recent Examples of black market

Noun

The lobster had been intended for delivery to Costco stores in Illinois and Minnesota but, most likely ended up being sold on the black market to restaurants or distributors. — Steve Weisman, Forbes.com, 1 July 2026 Pacific Island states have become a transit point for lucrative black market cocaine and methamphetamine shipments to Australia and New Zealand from as far as South America and Southeast Asia. — CBS News, 22 June 2026

Verb

The ongoing investigation, led by Reisig, is sprawling, involving dozens of search warrants and arrests in Los Angeles County and Crescent City aimed at piercing the black-market world of fireworks that fueled the blast. — Joe Rubin, Sacbee.com, 20 Mar. 2026 Superfakes is about a small-time Chinatown luxury counterfeit dealer who enters a dangerous black-market underworld in order to fund a life of suburban respectability for her family. — Jesse Whittock, Deadline, 18 Mar. 2026 See All Example Sentences for black market

Recent Examples of Synonyms for black market

Noun

The tariffs – whether threatened or implemented – sent shockwaves through the global economy, tested relationships with longstanding allies and pushed a handful of countries to strike trade deals with Washington to limit the damage.

— Hanna Ziady, CNN Money, 16 July 2026
Milton had a shaky first preseason with the Cowboys after being acquired in a trade last offseason, and he wasn’t called upon to play meaningful snaps in the regular season.

— Nick Harris, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 15 July 2026

Definition of trade

Verb

Wilmarys Del Valle Manzano Solorzano pleaded guilty to conspiracy to smuggle migrants for financial gain and conspiracy to commit money laundering.

— Antonio María Delgado, Miami Herald, 16 July 2026
Small drones were smuggled into Russia’s Bryansk region using air balloons and bigger transport drones, then taken by car near the air bases by Ukrainian agents, who were arrested, the security service said.

— Emma Carmichael, Los Angeles Times, 13 July 2026

Definition of smuggle

Noun

In addition to that very concerning laundry list of potential side effects, people are currently buying Melanotan II and its peptide peers from unregulated online sources, also known as the gray market.

— Kara Nesvig, Allure, 9 July 2026
That visibility has fueled a parallel gray market.

— Allison Palmer Updated June 24, Charlotte Observer, 24 June 2026

Definition of gray market

Verb

Through three tedious roll calls, Roosevelt forces bartered with delegations and finally put their man over the top on the fourth try when House Speaker John Nance Garner folded his candidacy in exchange for the vice presidential nomination.

— Kori Rumore, Chicago Tribune, 6 June 2026
Fromage fest One of the oldest cheese shops in Paris, Fromagerie La Fontaine has been bartering its bries and bleus since 1890.

— Mary Winston Nicklin, Condé Nast Traveler, 1 June 2026

Definition of barter

Noun

Back in Nikopol, freight business owner Kirillov said his family continues to adapt but remains resilient.

— Daria Tarasova-Markina, CNN Money, 18 July 2026
Had the Italian not departed for such a substantial fee, then Eddie Howe would have been operating with an even more restricted budget, especially given the volume of incoming business Newcastle intend to conduct.

— Chris Weatherspoon, New York Times, 18 July 2026

Definition of business

Verb

The fact we’re getting bootlegged and people are grabbing our voices and using ’em, rap needs to be taken as serious as any other genre!

— Mackenzie Cummings-Grady, Billboard, 11 July 2025
In 1920s Anaheim, the big local issue was bootlegging and Catholics, who were seen as foreigners in what was supposed to be an Anglo-Saxon Protestant country.

— Gustavo Arellano, Los Angeles Times, 25 Feb. 2025

Definition of bootleg

Noun

For Friday’s clash between Spain and Belgium, prices have plunged 65%, according to TickPick, a secondary ticket marketplace.

— Ben Church, CNN Money, 10 July 2026
Expert in healthcare policy, Celine Gounder, notes that healthier consumers are leaving the marketplace.

— Joshua P. Cohen, Forbes.com, 10 July 2026

Definition of marketplace

Verb

But Spain cut off this combination in the semifinal, and that pair exchanged only one pass.

— Eduardo Tansley, New York Times, 18 July 2026
In Milwaukee, where the air is in the hazardous category, the Milwaukee Brewers are allowing ticket holders to exchange tickets for Friday night's game for another regular season home game.

— Kenton Gewecke, ABC News, 17 July 2026

Definition of exchange

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Style

“Black market.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/black%20market. Accessed 18 Jul. 2026.

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Synonyms of black market

noun

verb

Example Sentences

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