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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Recent Examples of cartels
Los Ardillos, fighting rival cartels for territorial control in Guerrero state, has been blamed for 76 deaths and 25 disappearances in the region in recent years.
—
Megan Janetsky, Los Angeles Times, 10 May 2026
Over the years, scammers in Myanmar, drug cartels in Latin America, including a narco-submarine, and Russian military forces, have all been spotted using Starlink, which has prompted SpaceX to try to clamp down.
—Michael Kan, PC Magazine, 8 May 2026
After a bomb levels an apartment complex where Paul lives with his fam, Paul’s daughter Poe (Billie Boullet), an eyewitness to that carnage, becomes the target of vicious drug cartels who want her outta the picture.
—Randy Myers, Mercury News, 7 May 2026
But a legal case against Moya could expose ties between her party and Mexico’s cartels, kneecapping her domestic standing.
—Andrew Edgecliffe-Johnson, semafor.com, 30 Apr. 2026
The country is facing questions about security ahead of the World Cup and US pressure to take tougher action against cartels.
—Rocío Muñoz-Ledo, CNN Money, 29 Apr. 2026
But its primary association in the public consciousness since the nineteen-eighties is with the criminal underworld, particularly the drug cartels.
—Chris Wiley, New Yorker, 28 Apr. 2026
Conflict in Iran, border-enforcement controversies, cartels in Mexico, as well as dangerous weather and gun violence will be persistent risks throughout.
—Juliette Kayyem, The Atlantic, 27 Apr. 2026
Complicating matters for the cartels are the extreme dangers associated with manufacturing carfentanil, Tarentino said.
—ABC News, 17 Apr. 2026
Megan Janetsky, Los Angeles Times, 10 May 2026
Over the years, scammers in Myanmar, drug cartels in Latin America, including a narco-submarine, and Russian military forces, have all been spotted using Starlink, which has prompted SpaceX to try to clamp down.
—Michael Kan, PC Magazine, 8 May 2026
After a bomb levels an apartment complex where Paul lives with his fam, Paul’s daughter Poe (Billie Boullet), an eyewitness to that carnage, becomes the target of vicious drug cartels who want her outta the picture.
—Randy Myers, Mercury News, 7 May 2026
But a legal case against Moya could expose ties between her party and Mexico’s cartels, kneecapping her domestic standing.
—Andrew Edgecliffe-Johnson, semafor.com, 30 Apr. 2026
The country is facing questions about security ahead of the World Cup and US pressure to take tougher action against cartels.
—Rocío Muñoz-Ledo, CNN Money, 29 Apr. 2026
But its primary association in the public consciousness since the nineteen-eighties is with the criminal underworld, particularly the drug cartels.
—Chris Wiley, New Yorker, 28 Apr. 2026
Conflict in Iran, border-enforcement controversies, cartels in Mexico, as well as dangerous weather and gun violence will be persistent risks throughout.
—Juliette Kayyem, The Atlantic, 27 Apr. 2026
Complicating matters for the cartels are the extreme dangers associated with manufacturing carfentanil, Tarentino said.
—ABC News, 17 Apr. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for cartels
Noun
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For one, the Madlanga Commission — set up to investigate whether criminal syndicates and political actors have burrowed into the police, intelligence, and prosecutorial services — is due to submit its interim report at the end of May.—
Tiisetso Motsoeneng,
semafor.com,
29 Apr. 2026
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As with other criminal syndicates, the cartel has long oiled the gears of corruption with bribes.—
Steve Fisher,
Los Angeles Times,
26 Apr. 2026
Noun
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To deliver his message, Johnson chose Sinaloa state — the base of the Sinaloa cartel, one of the world’s most notorious drug-trafficking conglomerates.—
Steve Fisher,
Los Angeles Times,
26 Apr. 2026
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Seraya may seek a valuation of about $2 billion for Cyan, which has drawn early interest from other infrastructure investors, industry players and conglomerates, the people said.—
Manuel Baigorri,
Bloomberg,
24 Apr. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Cartels.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/cartels. Accessed 13 May. 2026.
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