as in Mafias
a group involved in secret or criminal activities
a conspiracy theory about the existence of an international cabal devoted to world domination
Synonyms & Similar Words
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Recent Examples of cabals
Literary Hub, 10 Dec. 2025
With a story of secret cabals and a child born to rule, Dumont projects the nasty prejudices and bureaucratic rigors of local politics, the tangles of family allegiances, and the tender grunge of young lust into divine and diabolical clashes run from celestial and subterranean castles.
—Justin Chang, New Yorker, 5 Dec. 2025
Noun
Thomas Pynchon’s latest novel, Shadow Ticket, set in 1932 Milwaukee, takes place in a landscape of industrial ghosts, strike-breakers, fascist sympathizers and absurdist cabals.
—Literary Hub, 10 Dec. 2025
With a story of secret cabals and a child born to rule, Dumont projects the nasty prejudices and bureaucratic rigors of local politics, the tangles of family allegiances, and the tender grunge of young lust into divine and diabolical clashes run from celestial and subterranean castles.
—Justin Chang, New Yorker, 5 Dec. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for cabals
Verb
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The ash people’s perspective allies them with the group looking to strip-mine Pandora’s resources.—
David Sims,
The Atlantic,
19 Dec. 2025
Noun
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Haiti remains in the grip of violent gangs despite recent gains in parts of Port-au-Prince.—
Jacqueline Charles,
Miami Herald,
2 June 2026
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On the other side, De la Espriella has promised to fiercely crack down on criminal groups and build 10 megaprisons, following in a similar vein as El Salvador’s president, Nayib Bukele, in his war on gangs, which has been beset by abuses, according to findings by human rights groups.—
Megan Janetsky,
Los Angeles Times,
1 June 2026
Verb
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Their top-30 visits, where NFL clubs host prospects at their facilities to gather further intel, are often smokescreens.—
Luca Evans,
Denver Post,
19 Apr. 2026
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These are in addition to private members clubs The Wilde and Cipriani, among other highlights.—
Luisa Zargani,
Footwear News,
16 Jan. 2026
Noun
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The 1940 novel Darkness at Noon is a fictionalized but highly realistic account of a Soviet official who is arrested under Stalin, is charged with wild anti-Soviet conspiracies, and ultimately chooses to give a public confession.—
Jonathan Chait,
The Atlantic,
27 May 2026
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The former clerk had become the face of election conspiracies and attempts to undermine voting systems, Cutter said.—
Seth Klamann,
Denver Post,
20 May 2026
Noun
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Instead, horses are often owned by sponsors, investors or syndicates.—
Danielle Rossingh,
New York Times,
26 May 2026
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Criminal syndicates The consequences extend far beyond South America.—
Antonio María Delgado,
Miami Herald,
13 May 2026
Verb
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Sridharan, for example, usually collaborates with AI to work through issues, but her experience using it in technical tests usually entails using it as a replacement for hands-on coding.—
Lisa Eadicicco,
CNN Money,
28 May 2026
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For this experience, the winery’s culinary team collaborates closely with winemakers, creating dishes inspired directly by individual wines.—
Yuri Shima,
Forbes.com,
22 May 2026
Noun
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These networks are viewed with less enthusiasm in the age of streaming, because more consumers are abandoning their cable subscriptions in favor of streaming services.—
Brian Steinberg,
Variety,
3 June 2026
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Most existing and proposed projects are clustered around major metropolitan areas where fiber-optic networks, power infrastructure and workforce needs can be met.—
Brandi D. Addison,
USA Today,
3 June 2026
Noun
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The auteur can now cross another genre off his bucket list with The Samurai and the Prisoner (Kokurojo), a stately and rather stagy historical mystery set during the 16th century, at a time when warring clans fought and outmaneuvered each other for control of the land.—
Jordan Mintzer,
HollywoodReporter,
24 May 2026
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Our story begins in the winter of that year, as Murashige — along with his wife Chiyoho (Yuriko Yoshitaka) and the small handful of clans loyal to their family — barricade themselves behind the peripets of Arioka Castle and wait for death to arrive at their doorstep.—
David Ehrlich,
IndieWire,
20 May 2026
Cite this Entry
“Cabals.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/cabals. Accessed 4 Jun. 2026.
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