Synonyms of black market

black market 1 of 2

noun

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.

Synonyms & Similar Words

• trade
• gray market
• business
• marketplace
• free trade
• traffic
• commerce
• dealings
• retailing
• merchandising
• horse-trading
• wholesaling
• bartering
• e-tail

black-market

2 of 2

verb

as in to smuggle

Synonyms & Similar Words

• smuggle
• barter
• bootleg
• exchange
• merchandise
• fence
• bargain
• wholesale
• resell
• horse-trade
• transact
• auction
• swap
• purchase
• supply
• sell
• buy
• negotiate
• market
• retail
• merchandize
• peddle
• monopolize
• vend
• distribute
• trade
• rebuy
• fair-trade
• traffic
• pick up
• undersell
• speculate
• deal
• engross
• take
• corner
• day-trade
• invest

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• black
• boycott
• blackball

Examples of black market in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Noun

As such, the DEA controls its production levels to ensure demand is met while preventing excess supply that could find its way to the black market. —Beth Mole, Ars Technica, 6 Sep. 2024

Elsewhere, sanctions have pushed autocratic regimes into black market trade, empowering criminal networks and gangs of smugglers. —Federica Cocco, Washington Post, 25 July 2024

Verb

This priority is so all-consuming that even the already reed-like Kristina seeks dangerous extra credit, dumping her dinners outside her bedroom window, and procuring a black-market tapeworm to further hollow out her insides. —Guy Lodge, Variety, 17 Aug. 2024

Legalization advocates disagree that Amendment 3 would jeopardize public safety, citing media reports that police are finding black-market marijuana laced with the dangerous drug fentanyl. —Skyler Swisher, Orlando Sentinel, 30 July 2024