racketeering 1 of 2

noun

as in gangsterism

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racketeering

2 of 2

verb

present participle of racketeer
as in extorting

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Dissimilar Words

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 racketeering
Noun
Troutman is charged with conspiracy to possess narcotics with intent to distribute, Hobbs Act extortion under color of official right and racketeering promotion. — Sofia Saric, Miami Herald, 1 Oct. 2026 Brown’s racketeering conspiracy charge carried a maximum penalty of 20 years in prison, three years of supervised release and a $250,000 fine. — Judy L. Thomas, Kansas City Star, 1 Oct. 2026 California health clinics accuse an influential union and its leader of racketeering in civil lawsuit. — Andrew J. Campa, Los Angeles Times, 19 Sep. 2026 Gunna spent about four years in prison for his role in a wide-ranging racketeering case involving several Atlanta rap personalities. — Aj Willingham, AJC.com, 19 Sep. 2026 Danette Colbert, 49, was also convicted of racketeering, as was her accomplice, 35-year-old Rickey White, according to Paul Purpura, a spokesperson for the district attorney's office. — CBS News, 18 Sep. 2026 Colbert, 49, and her co-defendant, Rickey White, 35, were also both found guilty of racketeering. — Meredith Deliso, ABC News, 18 Sep. 2026 About a decade ago, this office also prosecuted FIFA officials and sports-marketing executives for racketeering, wire fraud and money laundering over bribes and kickbacks. — Michael McCann, Sportico.com, 11 Sep. 2026 Just a few months before he was scheduled to be released from prison, Junior was charged in an 11-count racketeering indictment that included an alleged plot to kidnap Curtis Sliwa. — Caroline Blair, PEOPLE, 9 Sep. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for racketeering
  1. gangsterism
  2. extorting
  3. malfeasance
  4. blackmailing
  5. criminality
  6. coercing
  7. misconduct
  8. wresting
Noun
  • Plot summary The movie is set in Chicago in the 1930s, a time of economic deprivation and bold gangsterism and outlawry.
    — Alison Eldridge, Encyclopedia Britannica, 27 Feb. 2026
Definition of gangsterism
Verb
  • He was accused of extorting private contractors for bribes between 2018 and 2021 in exchange for helping the companies keep and obtain work on school construction contracts.
    — David Zimmermann, The Washington Examiner, 17 Sep. 2026
  • In his report, Prescott said there is evidence substantiating the claim that Rodriguez-Mendez was extorting Guaranda.
    — Justin Muszynski, Hartford Courant, 13 Aug. 2026
Definition of extorting
Noun
  • And people used bulletin boards and discussion groups on Chinese Web platforms like Weibo and QQ to report official malfeasance or corruption at the local or regional level.
    — Howard W. French, The New York Review of Books, 3 Oct. 2026
  • The Constitution is clear that states have inherent authority to protect their citizens from corporate malfeasance and don’t need Congress’ permission to exercise that power.
    — Patrick Parenteau, The Conversation, 30 Sep. 2026
Definition of malfeasance
Verb
  • The software might pursue options such as blackmailing its opponent or grabbing more compute time.
    — Deven Desai, The Conversation, 29 Sep. 2026
  • An announcement that is taking the blame game to great heights or lows, depending on your POV and who is blackmailing who — to paraphrase Bonta banger of earlier this week.
    — Dominic Patten, Deadline, 14 Aug. 2026
Definition of blackmailing
Noun
  • Van Houten ultimately determined the allegations did not warrant charges because of a lack of criminality.
    — Marlene Lenthang, NBC news, 5 Oct. 2026
  • The Madlanga Commission, a judicial inquiry set up after a senior police commander alleged last year that criminality and political interference had penetrated the justice system, has now sat for more than 180 days.
    — Tiisetso Motsoeneng, semafor.com, 2 Oct. 2026
Definition of criminality
Verb
  • Playing that cat, a work camp warden coercing Hawke’s character into smuggling gold through the wilderness, is none other than Russell Crowe.
    — Jack Smart, PEOPLE, 1 Sep. 2026
  • But in the past, these efforts were largely aimed at threatening or coercing Washington to act in their favor.
    — Dina Esfandiary, Foreign Affairs, 27 Aug. 2026
Definition of coercing
Noun
  • Newsom signed a similar bill that prevents federal agents from becoming police in California if their federal badge was revoked for misconduct.
    — Los Angeles Times, Los Angeles Times, 1 Oct. 2026
  • Eric Evans, a six-year employee of the police department, entered a guilty plea Wednesday for five misdemeanor charges of misconduct.
    — Kendrick Calfee, Kansas City Star, 1 Oct. 2026
Definition of misconduct
Verb
  • The leader of the group, Lydell Henry, told our partners at the Baltimore Banner the fan group had so far raised $13,000 for his group, which teaches wresting and provides after-school support to low income youth.
    — Bryan Lynn, CBS News, 6 Aug. 2026
  • French police rounded up thousands of Jews over two days in July 1942, wresting children from their mothers’ arms and dispatching everyone to Nazi death camps.
    — Los Angeles Times, Los Angeles Times, 20 July 2026
Definition of wresting

Browse Nearby Words

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Cite this Entry

“Racketeering.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/racketeering. Accessed 7 Oct. 2026.

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