as in syndicates
a number of businesses or enterprises united for commercial advantage
a cartel of oil-producing nations that controls production and influences prices
Synonyms & Similar Words
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Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of cartels
While millions of Americans travel to Mexico each year without incident, law enforcement officials emphasize that criminal violence remains widespread in regions where cartels operate.
—
Armando Regil Velasco, FOXNews.com, 8 Mar. 2026
The heart of our agreement is a commitment to using lethal military force to destroy the sinister cartels and terrorist networks.
—Molly Parks, The Washington Examiner, 7 Mar. 2026
Trump has also been critical of Mexico's efforts to fight drug cartels and traded barbs with the president of Colombia, Gustavo Petro.
—Selina Wang, ABC News, 7 Mar. 2026
Shaw is correct that the cartels are an issue in Mexico, but this latest outbreak was not directed at civilians or tourists.
—Chicago Tribune, 7 Mar. 2026
The cartels kept to themselves.
—Senior Editor, Los Angeles Times, 6 Mar. 2026
There is risk of violence in the area from terrorist groups, cartels, gangs and criminal organizations, the travel advisory says.
—Maia Pandey, jsonline.com, 5 Mar. 2026
Travelers must be aware of the risk of violence from terrorist groups, cartels, gangs and criminal organizations, adding that shootings between rival gangs have injured and killed innocent bystanders.
—Michael Salerno, AZCentral.com, 5 Mar. 2026
California's border with Mexico has been a battleground between the Sinaloa and Jalisco New Generation cartels.
—CBS News, 27 Feb. 2026
Armando Regil Velasco, FOXNews.com, 8 Mar. 2026
The heart of our agreement is a commitment to using lethal military force to destroy the sinister cartels and terrorist networks.
—Molly Parks, The Washington Examiner, 7 Mar. 2026
Trump has also been critical of Mexico's efforts to fight drug cartels and traded barbs with the president of Colombia, Gustavo Petro.
—Selina Wang, ABC News, 7 Mar. 2026
Shaw is correct that the cartels are an issue in Mexico, but this latest outbreak was not directed at civilians or tourists.
—Chicago Tribune, 7 Mar. 2026
The cartels kept to themselves.
—Senior Editor, Los Angeles Times, 6 Mar. 2026
There is risk of violence in the area from terrorist groups, cartels, gangs and criminal organizations, the travel advisory says.
—Maia Pandey, jsonline.com, 5 Mar. 2026
Travelers must be aware of the risk of violence from terrorist groups, cartels, gangs and criminal organizations, adding that shootings between rival gangs have injured and killed innocent bystanders.
—Michael Salerno, AZCentral.com, 5 Mar. 2026
California's border with Mexico has been a battleground between the Sinaloa and Jalisco New Generation cartels.
—CBS News, 27 Feb. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for cartels
Noun
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Recent Mexican history is riddled with the tales of once-powerful syndicates — gangs in Guadalajara, Tijuana and Ciudad Juárez, among them — that ruptured, were gobbled up by other mobs or petered out as the big guys were captured or killed.—
Kate Linthicum,
Los Angeles Times,
27 Feb. 2026
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Adams put together a portfolio of his workday doodles and sent it to several newspaper syndicates.—
Chris Koseluk,
HollywoodReporter,
13 Jan. 2026
Noun
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The automaker’s ownership and returns from bankruptcy have included several wealthy businessmen, Ford, Kuwaiti conglomerates and Mercedes-Benz.—
James Raia,
Mercury News,
10 Mar. 2026
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There’s a reason conglomerates invest years into supply chain logistics before scaling globally.—
Essence,
Essence,
3 Mar. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Cartels.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/cartels. Accessed 13 Mar. 2026.
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