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
The matter of cracking down on politicians linked to the cartels was reportedly a sticking point in the otherwise jolly Sheinbaum-Rubio meeting, according to La Politica Online.
—
Alex González Ormerod, Time, 6 Sep. 2025
In February, the administration designated Tren de Aragua, the Sinaloa Cartel, MS-13 and other drug cartels as foreign terrorist organizations.
—Emily Goodin, Miami Herald, 5 Sep. 2025
In a portion of California's Mendocino County, drug cartels have spent significant amounts of money to establish pot farms there, Mendocino County Sheriff Matthew Kendall previously told Fox News Digital.
—Louis Casiano, FOXNews.com, 5 Sep. 2025
Trump has previously ordered certain drug cartels — including five Mexican syndicates — to be designated as foreign terrorist organizations, and last month signed a Pentagon directive initiating the use of military force against drug trafficking groups.
—semafor.com, 5 Sep. 2025
That deadly strike, which followed the deployment of several US warships to the Caribbean on what Washington says is an effort to combat drug cartels, took place on the same seas on which the fishermen of Chichiriviche ply their trade every day.
—Andrew Raine, CNN Money, 4 Sep. 2025
There are also concerns about the misuse of needed expertise and resources of ATF agents who need to be targeting the cartels who are smuggling firearms, improving forensic tools for criminal investigations.
—Jason Ma, Fortune, 25 Aug. 2025
Many cachimbas are controlled by the drug cartels, or have agreements with certain cartels.
—Anna Marie De La Fuente, Variety, 25 Aug. 2025
But American firearms have a way of making it into the hands of the nation’s adversaries, from North Korean soldiers to cartels south of the border in Mexico.
—Michael Loria, USA Today, 20 Aug. 2025
Alex González Ormerod, Time, 6 Sep. 2025
In February, the administration designated Tren de Aragua, the Sinaloa Cartel, MS-13 and other drug cartels as foreign terrorist organizations.
—Emily Goodin, Miami Herald, 5 Sep. 2025
In a portion of California's Mendocino County, drug cartels have spent significant amounts of money to establish pot farms there, Mendocino County Sheriff Matthew Kendall previously told Fox News Digital.
—Louis Casiano, FOXNews.com, 5 Sep. 2025
Trump has previously ordered certain drug cartels — including five Mexican syndicates — to be designated as foreign terrorist organizations, and last month signed a Pentagon directive initiating the use of military force against drug trafficking groups.
—semafor.com, 5 Sep. 2025
That deadly strike, which followed the deployment of several US warships to the Caribbean on what Washington says is an effort to combat drug cartels, took place on the same seas on which the fishermen of Chichiriviche ply their trade every day.
—Andrew Raine, CNN Money, 4 Sep. 2025
There are also concerns about the misuse of needed expertise and resources of ATF agents who need to be targeting the cartels who are smuggling firearms, improving forensic tools for criminal investigations.
—Jason Ma, Fortune, 25 Aug. 2025
Many cachimbas are controlled by the drug cartels, or have agreements with certain cartels.
—Anna Marie De La Fuente, Variety, 25 Aug. 2025
But American firearms have a way of making it into the hands of the nation’s adversaries, from North Korean soldiers to cartels south of the border in Mexico.
—Michael Loria, USA Today, 20 Aug. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for cartels
Noun
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Behind these scams, according to the Commission's findings, Chinese crime syndicates have aligned themselves with Beijing's geopolitical agenda.—
Mike Kuiken,
MSNBC Newsweek,
8 Sep. 2025
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These scam centers mushroomed especially since the Covid-19 pandemic, when Chinese criminal syndicates found a new use for empty casinos and hotels.—
Christine Ro,
Forbes.com,
8 Sep. 2025
Noun
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And yet, such claims have continued to be common in M&A activity, whether spanning industries, like conglomerates, or staying within an industry.—
Erik Sherman,
Forbes.com,
8 Sep. 2025
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In a luxury industry almost entirely controlled by gargantuan conglomerates like LVMH and Kering, Armani was a rare holdout, managing to retain its independence a private company.—
Merle Ginsberg,
HollywoodReporter,
4 Sep. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Cartels.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/cartels. Accessed 11 Sep. 2025.
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