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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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
Being in the mob is serious business, and for us normies, the idea of racketeering and plotting whackings is a no-go. — Maira Garcia, Los Angeles Times, 30 Oct. 2026 Antonio Perez / Chicago Tribune Michael Madigan arrives at his West Lawn home on March 2, 2022, before it was announced he was indicted on federal racketeering charges. — Jason Meisner, Chicago Tribune, 30 Oct. 2026 Shaw is also a plaintiff in a federal lawsuit brought by Children's Health Defense and others against the American Academy of Pediatrics, accusing the organization of racketeering and lying about the safety of vaccinations. — CBS News, 22 Oct. 2026 Matos, 44, is wanted for murder in aid of racketeering and murder through the use of a firearm in connection with Carvajal's death, the FBI said. — ABC News, 20 Oct. 2026 After years of bootlegging, gambling, prostitution, and racketeering, Capone went down not for murder or mayhem but for failing to pay taxes. — Encyclopedia Britannica, 14 Oct. 2026 The owner of the pharmacy was later convicted of racketeering and other offenses by a federal jury. — Alana Semuels, Time, 7 Oct. 2026 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
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
  • Among the new rackets were providing cheap workers to new industries, ruling the docks of large port cities, extorting money from trading companies, and working for political parties to intimidate rival voters.
    — Ian Buruma, New Yorker, 12 Oct. 2026
  • 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
Definition of extorting
Noun
  • The rift between these tribes was on full display last month as the main opponent of the constitutional question claimed election malfeasance by proponents of A-83.
    — Andrew McKean, Outdoor Life, 15 Oct. 2026
  • Earlier this year, a grand jury handed down a 30-count indictment against then-Orleans Parish Sheriff Susan Hutson, for malfeasance, obstruction of justice and falsifying public records.
    — ABC News, ABC News, 15 Oct. 2026
Definition of malfeasance
Verb
  • Earlier in the day, shoppers who use the company’s app started posting screenshots of a push alert that appeared to be an attempt at blackmailing the retailer.
    — Evan Clark, Footwear News, 6 Oct. 2026
  • The software might pursue options such as blackmailing its opponent or grabbing more compute time.
    — Deven Desai, The Conversation, 29 Sep. 2026
Definition of blackmailing
Noun
  • Shame, disgust, anger, sadness and confusion equally course through Lucy, who starts wondering about the extent of Philip’s criminality.
    — Los Angeles Times, Los Angeles Times, 30 Oct. 2026
  • His office published statistics showing that the county jails were overwhelmingly filled with undocumented immigrants as proof of their criminality.
    — Michael Kiefer, Washington Post, 28 Oct. 2026
Definition of criminality
Verb
  • In lawsuits filed last year, Chegg and PMC accused Google of abusing its monopoly power by coercing publishers into supplying content for AI Overviews for free, or risk disappearing from search results.
    — Emma Roth, The Verge, 1 Oct. 2026
  • 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
Definition of coercing
Noun
  • Former township Clerk Kimberly Grable pleaded guilty to official misconduct and was sentenced to five years in prison.
    — The Editorial Board, Chicago Tribune, 29 Oct. 2026
  • Jansen Trotter Fannin County In its initial statement, the Leonard Police Department did not identify the underlying misconduct, explain what Trotter allegedly knew or failed to report, or identify anyone else involved.
    — Doug Myers, CBS News, 28 Oct. 2026
Definition of misconduct
Verb
  • The state has passed a string of laws wresting power over local development away from local government.
    — Nico Rivero, Miami Herald, 2 Oct. 2026
  • 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
Definition of wresting

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Cite this Entry

“Racketeering.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/racketeering. Accessed 6 Nov. 2026.

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