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 government has not launched any more major operations for fear of sparking further violence, with local experts explaining that cartels favour a smooth World Cup due to their financial interests, which run deeply across Mexico’s major cities.
—
Jacob Whitehead,
New York Times,
26 June 2026
Cepeda has participated in and continued throughout the campaign to promote negotiations with guerrillas and cartels.
—
CBS News,
24 June 2026
The kidnappings have been linked to run-ins with drug cartels and corrupt government officials, while there have also been cases involving young women who worked at the country’s many factories.
—
Eduard Cauich,
Los Angeles Times,
21 June 2026
Continue reading … SELENE RODRIGUEZ & AMMON BLAIR — While Mexico defends ‘sovereignty,’ cartels import a flesh-eating parasite into Texas.
—
FOXNews.com,
17 June 2026
The November killing of Carlos Alberto Manzo Rodríguez, the popular mayor of Uruapan, Michoacan, highlighted dangers for politicians who stand up to cartels and criminal groups.
—
ABC News,
13 June 2026
Sebastian Vieru ran a mixed-martial-arts company with backing from two brothers, Mihăiță and Sorin Doroftei, who were later indicted for heading one of the largest criminal cartels in Romanian history.
—
Heidi Blake,
New Yorker,
8 June 2026
The wisdom of encouraging private Americans to get into armed battles with cartels is certainly debatable, and the Senate has not advanced the bill.
—
David A. Graham,
The Atlantic,
4 June 2026
By aggressively targeting cartels and enforcing strict criminal penalties for drug dealers who poison Florida’s citizens, the administration has successfully squeezed the supply of illicit narcotics off Florida’s streets.
—
John Koufos,
Sun Sentinel,
2 June 2026
Jacob Whitehead,
New York Times,
26 June 2026
Cepeda has participated in and continued throughout the campaign to promote negotiations with guerrillas and cartels.
—
CBS News,
24 June 2026
The kidnappings have been linked to run-ins with drug cartels and corrupt government officials, while there have also been cases involving young women who worked at the country’s many factories.
—
Eduard Cauich,
Los Angeles Times,
21 June 2026
Continue reading … SELENE RODRIGUEZ & AMMON BLAIR — While Mexico defends ‘sovereignty,’ cartels import a flesh-eating parasite into Texas.
—
FOXNews.com,
17 June 2026
The November killing of Carlos Alberto Manzo Rodríguez, the popular mayor of Uruapan, Michoacan, highlighted dangers for politicians who stand up to cartels and criminal groups.
—
ABC News,
13 June 2026
Sebastian Vieru ran a mixed-martial-arts company with backing from two brothers, Mihăiță and Sorin Doroftei, who were later indicted for heading one of the largest criminal cartels in Romanian history.
—
Heidi Blake,
New Yorker,
8 June 2026
The wisdom of encouraging private Americans to get into armed battles with cartels is certainly debatable, and the Senate has not advanced the bill.
—
David A. Graham,
The Atlantic,
4 June 2026
By aggressively targeting cartels and enforcing strict criminal penalties for drug dealers who poison Florida’s citizens, the administration has successfully squeezed the supply of illicit narcotics off Florida’s streets.
—
John Koufos,
Sun Sentinel,
2 June 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for cartels
Noun
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Alongside that, South Africa’s police force has been embroiled in scandal, accused of corruption and collusion with criminal syndicates.
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Applying terrorism designations to criminal syndicates, Brazilian officials say, conflicts with domestic legal definitions and risks blurring distinctions underpinning international counterterrorism law.
Noun
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As one of the world’s largest spirits conglomerates, the company certainly had access to some choice, well-aged stocks.
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Yet sluggishness at the very top is masking dynamism throughout the rest of the list, as a new generation of firms—whether Vietnamese conglomerates, Singaporean banks, or once-loss-making digital platforms—is capturing a greater share of regional revenue and profits.
Cite this Entry
“Cartels.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/cartels. Accessed 29 Jun. 2026.
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