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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as in to smuggle
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Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of black market
Margaret Heidenry, Vanity Fair, 24 Feb. 2026
Though best known for drug trafficking, the group was involved in a variety of black market operations and enforced its claims through exaggerated and provocative acts of violence.
—Joseph Wilkinson, New York Daily News, 22 Feb. 2026
Literary Hub, 2 Feb. 2026
Smith will be playing the role of black-market art dealer, Ruskin.
—Matt Grobar, Deadline, 15 Jan. 2026
See All Example Sentences for black market
Noun
Knowing that nostalgia would appeal to soldiers far from home, Kim’s mother bought a Rosemary Clooney album on the black market, and taught the songs phonetically to the girls.
—Margaret Heidenry, Vanity Fair, 24 Feb. 2026
Though best known for drug trafficking, the group was involved in a variety of black market operations and enforced its claims through exaggerated and provocative acts of violence.
—Joseph Wilkinson, New York Daily News, 22 Feb. 2026
Verb
Caimor’s wealthiest citizens can transfer their Pith, or consciousness, into a chassis, or new body, modified to their every whim… or the poor but terminally ill, like nine-year-old Anabelle, can be transferred into a black-market, stock-model Edgar body in order to save her life.
—Literary Hub, 2 Feb. 2026
Smith will be playing the role of black-market art dealer, Ruskin.
—Matt Grobar, Deadline, 15 Jan. 2026
See All Example Sentences for black market
Recent Examples of Synonyms for black market
Noun
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Scott Laughton scored in his debut for the Kings, who acquired the center in a trade with Toronto on Friday.—
Los Angeles Times,
Los Angeles Times,
8 Mar. 2026
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Central bank researchers called this a structural change in the national economy stemming directly from heightened trade tensions.—
Alex Harring,
CNBC,
7 Mar. 2026
Verb
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During the past few years, the Houthis have become less reliant on Iran for weapons, smuggling in drone components from Chinese companies and small arms from the Horn of Africa.—
Sudarsan Raghavan,
New Yorker,
12 Mar. 2026
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Angela, grieving for her family and friends gone in the war, smuggles goods along the front lines to make a living.—
Murtada Elfadl,
Variety,
10 Mar. 2026
Noun
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Outside of the clinic, an eager gray market has sprung up, selling unofficial versions of the drugs.—
Bethany Brookshire,
Scientific American,
6 Feb. 2026
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Once a gray market is thriving, who, if anyone, will foot the bill for rigorous research?—
Sara Talpos — Undark,
STAT,
3 Feb. 2026
Verb
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According to reports, the Wolves are boxing the likes of the Knicks, Heat and Warriors in this fight, with Minnesota having no valuable draft compensation with which to barter.—
Jace Frederick,
Twin Cities,
29 Jan. 2026
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The Cleveland Fed reported that some businesses, now that the worst of the volatility seems to have settled, are now managing to barter down prices.—
Eleanor Pringle,
Fortune,
15 Jan. 2026
Noun
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Mojtaba Khamenei, a mid-ranking cleric with influence within Iran's security forces and vast business networks under his father, had been seen as a frontrunner in the lead-up to the assembly vote.—
James Powel,
USA Today,
9 Mar. 2026
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Benitez’s concerns about the Iran conflict go far beyond his business.—
Hannah Fry,
Los Angeles Times,
9 Mar. 2026
Verb
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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
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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
Noun
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The merger underscores the challenging marketplace for independent studios.—
Lucas Shaw,
Bloomberg,
9 Mar. 2026
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In what could be considered a competitive move, Broward Health and Memorial Healthcare System, for the first time, jointly ventured into the volatile and potentially lucrative Affordable Care Act marketplace by launching their own insurer for Broward County residents in 2026.—
Cindy Krischer Goodman,
Sun Sentinel,
8 Mar. 2026
Verb
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Panama’s Jonathan Araúz exchanged shouts and pushes with manager José Mayorga when the pinch hitter returned to the dugout after grounding out leading off the ninth.—
Dallas Morning News,
Dallas Morning News,
10 Mar. 2026
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When allegations of misconduct arose against Krauss at ASU, the physicist exchanged dozens of messages and emails with Epstein seeking advice on how to handle them.—
Scott Neuman,
NPR,
9 Mar. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Black market.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/black%20market. Accessed 13 Mar. 2026.
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