as in gangs
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
Recent Examples of Synonyms for Mafias
Noun
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The roots of anti-fascist activism can be traced to a period just after World War I when German and Italian leftists came together and fought against fascist gangs.—
Robert Birsel,
MSNBC Newsweek,
18 Sep. 2025 -
Home invasions, vicious biker gangs and a rag-tag task force looking for a group of thieves after a young child goes missing.—
Erik Kain,
Forbes.com,
17 Sep. 2025
Noun
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Behind these scams, according to the Commission's findings, Chinese crime syndicates have aligned themselves with Beijing's geopolitical agenda.—
Mike Kuiken,
MSNBC Newsweek,
8 Sep. 2025
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These scam centers mushroomed especially since the Covid-19 pandemic, when Chinese criminal syndicates found a new use for empty casinos and hotels.—
Christine Ro,
Forbes.com,
8 Sep. 2025
Noun
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Orbán’s conspiracies around Soros are gaining traction in the US.—
Christian Edwards,
CNN Money,
19 Sep. 2025
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From there, conspiracies abound.—
Declan Gallagher,
Entertainment Weekly,
14 Sep. 2025
Noun
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Yet the unit also targets dissenters and those, including various clans, some backed by Israel, that dare to defy Hamas’s rule.—
Sean Durns,
The Washington Examiner,
12 Sep. 2025
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His death effectively ended the O’More as one of the major Irish clans.—
Jesse Whittock,
Deadline,
8 Sep. 2025
Noun
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Still others could be finding creative funding solutions — from selling naming rights to signing advertising sponsorships that tap into community and alumni networks.—
Jaime Catmull,
Forbes.com,
19 Sep. 2025
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Some attendees quietly voiced the opinion that Seriesly needs to attract more global streamers, more local networks and more international content distributors who can add spice to the screenings line up – something the nascent event will surely explore for 2026.—
Jesse Whittock,
Deadline,
19 Sep. 2025
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Cite this Entry
“Mafias.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/Mafias. Accessed 21 Sep. 2025.
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