as in gang
a group involved in secret or criminal activities
the local Mafia largely finances itself through extortion rackets and drug trafficking
Synonyms & Similar Words
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Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of Mafia
Presley’s friends in the Memphis Mafia were convinced that Elvis wanted to tour the world and blamed Parker’s fear of deportation.
—
Kim Willis, USA Today, 5 Aug. 2025
Latin Mafia’s appearance at Lollapalooza felt, to many, like a tribute to Latin music.
—Sophie Levenson, Chicago Tribune, 4 Aug. 2025
Swedish House Mafia plays the second weekend of Tomorrowland 2025 today.
—Katie Bain, Billboard, 25 July 2025
De Soto Music and shopping together The Rhythm & Roots Market will feature Superstar Mafia from 6:30 to 9:30 p.m. Friday, July 25, in Downtown DeSoto.
—Debra Skodack, Kansas City Star, 23 July 2025
See All Example Sentences for Mafia
Kim Willis, USA Today, 5 Aug. 2025
Latin Mafia’s appearance at Lollapalooza felt, to many, like a tribute to Latin music.
—Sophie Levenson, Chicago Tribune, 4 Aug. 2025
Swedish House Mafia plays the second weekend of Tomorrowland 2025 today.
—Katie Bain, Billboard, 25 July 2025
De Soto Music and shopping together The Rhythm & Roots Market will feature Superstar Mafia from 6:30 to 9:30 p.m. Friday, July 25, in Downtown DeSoto.
—Debra Skodack, Kansas City Star, 23 July 2025
See All Example Sentences for Mafia
Recent Examples of Synonyms for Mafia
Noun
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Leticia Gamboa testified the message was relayed through David Oropeza, who like Reyna belonged to the Eastside Paramount gang.—
Matthew Ormseth,
Los Angeles Times,
29 Jan. 2026
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Haitians face widespread hunger and gang violence.—
CBS News,
CBS News,
29 Jan. 2026
Noun
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His son, Paolo, now a district representative in Davao, was rumored to have a Triad crime syndicate tattoo on his back, and refused to remove his shirt in a Senate panel on drug smuggling.—
Sean Williams,
Harpers Magazine,
27 Jan. 2026
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According to federal prosecutors, a group of bettors enticed players with payments of anywhere from $10,000 to $30,000 for their willingness to help the syndicate win bets on first-half and full-game spreads.—
Lindsay Schnell,
New York Times,
16 Jan. 2026
Noun
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Prosecutors charged Lemon with conspiracy to deprive rights and a FACE Act violation stemming from his involvement in an anti-ICE protest that disrupted church services in Minnesota.—
Greg Wehner,
FOXNews.com,
1 Feb. 2026
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So far, Becerra’s former chief of staff Sean McCluskie and Sacramento lobbyist Greg Campbell have pleaded guilty to conspiracy to commit wire and bank fraud.—
Susan Shelley,
Oc Register,
1 Feb. 2026
Noun
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Two men, who prosecutors said were members of a Russian mob hired by Iran, received 25 year prison terms in October for attempting to kill Alinejad at her Brooklyn home.—
Katrina Kaufman,
CBS News,
28 Jan. 2026
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Another young man, Mashal Khan, a university student and poet, was lynched by a mob of fellow students who accused him of blasphemy.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
27 Jan. 2026
Noun
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But over the past few years, tensions between Brooklyn Beckham, his wife Nicola Peltz and the rest of the Beckham clan have escalated significantly, ultimately coming to a head with Brooklyn’s scathing social media claims about his parents.—
Christina Dugan Ramirez,
FOXNews.com,
26 Jan. 2026
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In Hoffman’s hands, Elliot looks like a cross between the late Phillip Seymour Hoffman (the young actor’s dad) and a roguishly handsome member of the Kennedy clan.—
Peter Debruge,
Variety,
24 Jan. 2026
Noun
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China for decades has cultivated an extensive network of ties across Latin America and the Caribbean, a region that encompasses more than 30 countries and 670 million people.—
Simone McCarthy,
CNN Money,
31 Jan. 2026
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The company has earmarked at least $10 billion to build the network.—
Annie Palmer,
CNBC,
31 Jan. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Mafia.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/Mafia. Accessed 2 Feb. 2026.
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