as in conspiracy
a secret agreement or cooperation between two parties for an illegal or dishonest purpose the two major auction houses acting in complicity to drive up the prices of art works

Synonyms & Similar Words

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Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of complicity Such complicity will damage national security by strengthening enemies, driving away allies, harming international trade, increasing nuclear proliferation, encouraging new wars of territorial conquest, and ending America’s role as leader of the free world. Dp Opinion, Denver Post, 23 Oct. 2025 The self has long been a product; what’s new, perhaps, is the clarity and complicity of the transaction. Katy Waldman, New Yorker, 20 Oct. 2025 Silence is complicity; protection is discipleship. Ed Gaskin, Boston Herald, 19 Oct. 2025 David Cram’s story is difficult, because there are a lot of conspiracy theories out there about his complicity in Gacy’s life. Emily Longeretta, Variety, 17 Oct. 2025 See All Example Sentences for complicity
Recent Examples of Synonyms for complicity
Noun
  • Police arrested Wimunc on suspicion of his wife's murder, charging him with first-degree murder, second-degree arson and conspiracy to commit second-degree arson.
    Mason Leath, ABC News, 7 Nov. 2025
  • From the off, Deza identifies any number of gaps and inconsistencies in the prosecution’s case against her client, and even evidence of a systemic conspiracy against her.
    Guy Lodge, Variety, 7 Nov. 2025
Noun
  • Meanwhile, Strzok and Page were assigned in 2017 to work on then-Special Prosecutor Robert Mueller’s team, tasked with investigating the Russia collusion narrative.
    David Zimmermann, The Washington Examiner, 8 Nov. 2025
  • Kurchenko was also close to Viktor Yanukovych, the Kremlin-leaning Ukrainian president at the time, and was later accused by the succeeding Ukrainian government of systematically evading millions in taxes with the collusion of officials in Yanukovych’s administration.
    Olena Loginova, Miami Herald, 7 Nov. 2025
Noun
  • Or secretly despise his own connivance?
    Anthony Lane, New Yorker, 18 Sep. 2025
  • In addition, senior executives could be held personally liable when offences involve their consent, connivance or neglect.
    Jamie Hailstone, Forbes.com, 29 May 2025

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Cite this Entry

“Complicity.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/complicity. Accessed 16 Nov. 2025.

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