Synonyms of cartels

cartels

noun

plural of cartel

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

• syndicates
• conglomerates
• partnerships
• unions
• associations
• chains
• trusts
• organizations
• multinationals
• combinations
• combines
• megacorporations
• guilds
• pools

Example Sentences

Recent Examples of cartels

After nearly a decade, CIA officer Matt Graver is still waging his war against Mexican drug cartels in Taylor Sheridan‘s Sicario cinematic universe. — Glenn Garner, Deadline, 22 Aug. 2026

Drug cartels, for instance, have used them to launder their proceeds. — Alvin Camba, Foreign Affairs, 21 Aug. 2026

The film follows a group of struggling East London rappers who, desperate to outdo another rising star, steal a boat for a music video only to discover it’s stuffed with cash, landing them between rival crime cartels. — Jake Angelo, semafor.com, 19 Aug. 2026

But in a state where numerous local cartels make money not only from drugs but also from extortion, there are plenty of possibilities. — ABC News, 16 Aug. 2026

It’s well known the administration has tasked HSI — a force established to combat drug cartels, terrorism and other cross-border criminal enterprises — with leading the campaign to find election fraud cases in the United States. — Peter Elkind, ProPublica, 14 Aug. 2026

In Ecuador, local criminal gangs allied with Colombian and Mexican cartels manage the routes and ship the narcotics, 80% of which originate in Colombia and the rest in Peru. — CNN Money, 13 Aug. 2026

Drug cartels often stamp their products with images of politicians and celebrities to show quality, experts say. — Stella Canino-Quiñones, Washington Post, 13 Aug. 2026

Now influencers and content creators are recruited by cartels to distribute their messages online. — Kevin Sieff, The Atlantic, 13 Aug. 2026