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
Ed Sayres, Denver Post, 29 Mar. 2026
The black market drug trade flourishes inside prisons that are under 24-hour surveillance.
—Cincinnati Enquirer, 29 Mar. 2026
Jay Weaver, Miami Herald, 16 Mar. 2026
Gambling apologists argue that the recent revelations are proof that new laws are working—offshore sportsbooks and black-market bookies never coordinated with law enforcement to flag suspicious bets the way FanDuel and DraftKings do now.
—Mckay Coppins, The Atlantic, 12 Mar. 2026
See All Example Sentences for black market
Noun
Driving pets and people into a black market is wrong.
—Ed Sayres, Denver Post, 29 Mar. 2026
The black market drug trade flourishes inside prisons that are under 24-hour surveillance.
—Cincinnati Enquirer, 29 Mar. 2026
Verb
According to court records, Gentek sold more than $42 million of black-market HIV drugs to the Boyds.
—Jay Weaver, Miami Herald, 16 Mar. 2026
Gambling apologists argue that the recent revelations are proof that new laws are working—offshore sportsbooks and black-market bookies never coordinated with law enforcement to flag suspicious bets the way FanDuel and DraftKings do now.
—Mckay Coppins, The Atlantic, 12 Mar. 2026
See All Example Sentences for black market
Recent Examples of Synonyms for black market
Noun
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For a state like Illinois — a global hub for manufacturing and agriculture — these federal trade wars act as a direct anchor on our economy.—
Chicago Tribune,
Chicago Tribune,
11 Apr. 2026
-
The draft As part of an NBA settlement over the Heat not being made fully aware of the gambling investigation into Terry Rozier ahead of the Heat’s January 2024 trade for the guard, the Heat from the Hornets will be receiving Golden State’s second-round pick in June.—
Ira Winderman,
Sun Sentinel,
11 Apr. 2026
Verb
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June Osborne, who smuggled a Commander’s baby across the Gilead border into Toronto.—
Amanda Whiting,
Vulture,
8 Apr. 2026
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Pauli argued that some additional, invisible particle must be smuggling the leftover energy into the world.—
Quanta Magazine,
Quanta Magazine,
8 Apr. 2026
Noun
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But the group argues the public would be safer if peptides were handled by regulated compounding pharmacies instead of the gray market.—
Anjeanette Damon,
ProPublica,
3 Apr. 2026
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Missouri Attorney General Catherine Hanaway is seeking to prevent American Shaman, the Kansas City company at the forefront of a sprawling gray market, from selling an opioid that’s available at gas stations and smoke shops across the country.—
Jack Harvel,
Kansas City Star,
31 Mar. 2026
Verb
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Thus, the Campanos wanted Owen dead, but Frank’s long-standing friendship with Nicholas allowed the latter to barter and keep Hannah and Bailey out of the fray so long as Owen stayed away from them.—
Dessi Gomez,
Deadline,
14 Mar. 2026
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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
Noun
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The crash, which was captured on surveillance cameras from multiple angles, damaged the entrance of Oriental Rug Care, an industrial business located in the city.—
Abby Dodge,
CBS News,
6 Apr. 2026
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The show mostly avoids the politics that swirl around the design business, especially these days when critics are obsessed with the environmental evils of fast fashion and the shortcomings of an industry known to exploit labor around the globe.—
Ray Mark Rinaldi,
Denver Post,
6 Apr. 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
-
The marketplace itself is exerting no discipline whatsoever.—
Jim Cramer,
CNBC,
5 Apr. 2026
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In 2023, Authentic put the SI name on Lunatix, a sputtering ticket marketplace.—
Los Angeles Times,
Los Angeles Times,
5 Apr. 2026
Verb
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Indeed, barely any words are exchanged.—
Kristen Roupenian,
New Yorker,
6 Apr. 2026
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The teams exchanged runs in the 10th, Seattle scoring on Randy Arozarena's RBI single and the Angels on Logan O'Hoppe's sacrifice fly.—
CBS News,
CBS News,
6 Apr. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Black market.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/black%20market. Accessed 13 Apr. 2026.
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