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
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Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of complicity
Two defendants were acquitted on charges of complicity, though one was ordered to pay 5,000 euros to Kardashian and the concierge of her apartment building.
—
J. Kim Murphy, Variety, 23 May 2025
Jamie Vella and Robert Agius, who were accused of supplying the car bomb that killed Maltese journalist Daphne Caruana Galizia, were convicted of complicity in the Oct. 16, 2017, murder.
—Arkansas Online, 7 June 2025
When that right is under attack, silence becomes complicity.
—Larry Hogan, Baltimore Sun, 4 June 2025
Additionally, such an extensive cover-up would require the complicity of thousands of people across the political spectrum, including Republicans, journalists, and foreign officials—an implausible scenario.
—Hugh Cameron, MSNBC Newsweek, 1 June 2025
See All Example Sentences for complicity
J. Kim Murphy, Variety, 23 May 2025
Jamie Vella and Robert Agius, who were accused of supplying the car bomb that killed Maltese journalist Daphne Caruana Galizia, were convicted of complicity in the Oct. 16, 2017, murder.
—Arkansas Online, 7 June 2025
When that right is under attack, silence becomes complicity.
—Larry Hogan, Baltimore Sun, 4 June 2025
Additionally, such an extensive cover-up would require the complicity of thousands of people across the political spectrum, including Republicans, journalists, and foreign officials—an implausible scenario.
—Hugh Cameron, MSNBC Newsweek, 1 June 2025
See All Example Sentences for complicity
Recent Examples of Synonyms for complicity
Noun
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And multiple members of the Trump Administration have promoted antisemitic conspiracies and associated with antisemitic extremists.—
Tom Dreisbach,
NPR,
30 June 2025
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Among those set free with Trump's acts of clemency were Enrique Tarrio, leader of the far-right Proud Boys, who received the longest sentence of 22 years for seditious conspiracy.—
Phillip M. Bailey,
USA Today,
29 June 2025
Noun
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Funny enough, those negotiations are part of a fascinating document just published this week by Pablo Torre regarding collusion charges levied against the NFL by the NFL Players Association.—
Parker Gabriel,
Denver Post,
26 June 2025
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On the second factor, the Arbitrator found that the clubs were not aware that they were being invited to participate in collusion.—
Chris Deubert,
Forbes.com,
26 June 2025
Noun
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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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The arrests were part of wide-ranging Establishment attacks on the new generation of pop stars in Britain at the time, done through connivance with informers and a hostile conservative media.—
Bill Wyman,
Vulture,
30 Jan. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Complicity.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/complicity. Accessed 3 Jul. 2025.
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