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
Kassia Bonesteel, CBS News, 28 May 2026
The pursuit takes Bond across the world, from Slovakia to the dangerous black market of Aleph, ruled by the temperamental Bawma (Lenny Kravitz).
—Destiny Jackson, Deadline, 26 May 2026
Jesse Whittock, Deadline, 18 Mar. 2026
The Shelby Township Police Department seized nearly 1,000 pounds of black-market marijuana, weapons and other items while serving a search warrant on March 13, 2026 at a home in the township.
—Paula Wethington, CBS News, 17 Mar. 2026
See All Example Sentences for black market
Noun
The California State Assembly passed a new bill that lawmakers hope can rein in a black market in restaurant reservations.
—Kassia Bonesteel, CBS News, 28 May 2026
The pursuit takes Bond across the world, from Slovakia to the dangerous black market of Aleph, ruled by the temperamental Bawma (Lenny Kravitz).
—Destiny Jackson, Deadline, 26 May 2026
Verb
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
The Shelby Township Police Department seized nearly 1,000 pounds of black-market marijuana, weapons and other items while serving a search warrant on March 13, 2026 at a home in the township.
—Paula Wethington, CBS News, 17 Mar. 2026
See All Example Sentences for black market
Recent Examples of Synonyms for black market
Noun
-
The international trade corridor remains open for transit.—
Bart Jansen,
USA Today,
13 June 2026
-
Other trades were a little bit more favorable in their pre-release projections, forecasting an opening weekend take of anywhere between $35 million to $50 million.—
Tim Lammers,
Forbes.com,
13 June 2026
Verb
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The kingdom slapped a ban on Lebanese fruits and vegetables in 2021, saying they were being used to smuggle drugs.—
ABC News,
ABC News,
10 June 2026
-
Two British men were sentenced in March to nine and 11 years in prison respectively after they were found guilty of smuggling cocaine into Bali.—
CBS News,
CBS News,
9 June 2026
Noun
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The exploit allowed hackers to take over and flip valuable Instagram accounts worth hundreds of thousands of dollars on the gray market before Meta implemented an emergency patch on May 29.—
Jeremy Hsu,
ArsTechnica,
1 June 2026
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Soon, a thriving gray market emerged, with BPC-157 as one of its stars.—
Sara Talpos — Undark,
STAT,
1 June 2026
Verb
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Bac Ha is one of the busiest and most visually striking markets in its region, drawing multiple ethnic minority groups who barter and sell their goods each week.—
Hanna Wickes,
Miami Herald,
29 May 2026
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One of the busiest and most visually striking markets in the region, Bac Ha draws multiple ethnic minority groups who barter and sell their goods each week.—
Hanna Wickes,
Kansas City Star,
29 May 2026
Noun
-
The federal government, parliament and EconomieSuisse, a major business association, oppose the idea.—
Jamey Keaten,
Los Angeles Times,
15 June 2026
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That opened access to low-interest loans for homeowners, businesses and nonprofits but not grants for personal expenses like temporary housing.—
Daniel C. Vock,
Chicago Tribune,
14 June 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 great deregulation of religion led to a thriving marketplace, forcing churches to innovate and to compete for customers.—
Michael Luo,
New Yorker,
14 June 2026
-
The big festival features a day of live music and DJs, a marketplace with Black vendors, food and drinks, games, and other activities (with tickets starting at $28).—
Lisa Deaderick,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
13 June 2026
Verb
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The apparent loss of the aircraft came after hostilities in the region escalated over the weekend, with Iran and Israel exchanging their first direct strikes in months late Sunday.—
Todd Symons,
CNN Money,
9 June 2026
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An armed intruder was shot and killed after entering a San Jacinto home and exchanging gunfire with the homeowner, according to the Riverside County Sheriff’s Department.—
Jazmin Alvarado,
Los Angeles Times,
9 June 2026
Cite this Entry
“Black market.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/black%20market. Accessed 15 Jun. 2026.
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