as in trade
a system through which things are bought and sold illegally
The black market in prescription drugs is thriving. They unloaded the stolen goods on the black market.
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as in to smuggle
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Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of black-market
Thomas Meaney, New Yorker, 2 July 2025
Maybe dinosaurs will become highly desirable black-market items for those seeking exotic pets or cutting-edge weapons.
—Keith Phipps, Vulture, 1 July 2025
Janvier Barhahiga, Arkansas Online, 29 Aug. 2025
Rhino horn can fetch more than $60,000 per kilogram on the black market, a commodity more valuable than gold, platinum or diamonds, according to the United Kingdom's Department for Environment, Food & Rural Affairs.
—Dakota Bennett, ABC News, 20 Aug. 2025
See All Example Sentences for black-market
Noun
At the ghetto wall, German soldiers shoot at Jewish children who had tunnelled beneath to find black-market exchanges.
—Thomas Meaney, New Yorker, 2 July 2025
Maybe dinosaurs will become highly desirable black-market items for those seeking exotic pets or cutting-edge weapons.
—Keith Phipps, Vulture, 1 July 2025
Verb
The older bills exchange for new ones at a rate of about 10-to-1, said Ruboneka Mirindi Innocent, one of several local residents who now work on the black market as money-changers.
—Janvier Barhahiga, Arkansas Online, 29 Aug. 2025
Rhino horn can fetch more than $60,000 per kilogram on the black market, a commodity more valuable than gold, platinum or diamonds, according to the United Kingdom's Department for Environment, Food & Rural Affairs.
—Dakota Bennett, ABC News, 20 Aug. 2025
See All Example Sentences for black-market
Recent Examples of Synonyms for black-market
Noun
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He was acquired, along with closer Victor Vodnik, in a July 2023 trade with the Braves for reliever Pierce Johnson.—
Patrick Saunders,
Denver Post,
17 Sep. 2025
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European businesses will be closely watching that meeting, as China is the EU’s second-largest goods partner with trade standing at $732 billion euros in 2024.—
Evelyn Cheng,
CNBC,
17 Sep. 2025
Verb
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According to court documents, between February 2019 and March 2022 Jasme arranged to smuggle large quantities of cocaine along routes that led through Colombia, Venezuela, the Dominican Republic, The Bahamas and Haiti.—
Jacqueline Charles,
Miami Herald,
19 Sep. 2025
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Liu allegedly smuggled the fungus into the country at Detroit Metro Airport in clear plastic baggies in his backpack in July 2024.—
Christina Hall,
Freep.com,
19 Sep. 2025
Noun
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This loophole fueled a $28 billion gray market, which states are now slowly dismantling—though some have already moved to regulate the industry.—
Dario Sabaghi,
Forbes.com,
16 Sep. 2025
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New research is shedding light on the inner workings of the multimillion-dollar gray market for video game cheats.—
Lily Hay Newman,
Wired News,
16 Aug. 2025
Verb
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For weeks leading up to the election, judges barter for their votes with candidates and make deals for which court system, division and courthouse they will be assigned to, and power players jockey for the supervisory placements, or presiding judge positions, by promising a bloc of loyal votes.—
Paul Vallas,
Chicago Tribune,
29 Aug. 2025
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Riz Ahmed’s Ash is the relay mastermind who will barter the deal, keep Sarah alive from reprisals and handle the sizable cash payment.—
Stephen Schaefer,
Boston Herald,
20 Aug. 2025
Noun
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CEOs and global leaders will gather for a dynamic, invitation-only event shaping the future of business.—
Jason Ma,
Fortune,
21 Sep. 2025
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As world leaders, business executives, and policy makers prepare to gather for Climate Week NYC's official programming, activists are demanding more aggressive action from those with the greatest economic and political power.—
Adeola Adeosun,
MSNBC Newsweek,
21 Sep. 2025
Verb
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The fact we’re getting bootlegged and people are grabbing our voices and using ’em, rap needs to be taken as serious as any other genre!—
Mackenzie Cummings-Grady,
Billboard,
11 July 2025
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In 1920s Anaheim, the big local issue was bootlegging and Catholics, who were seen as foreigners in what was supposed to be an Anglo-Saxon Protestant country.—
Gustavo Arellano,
Los Angeles Times,
25 Feb. 2025
Noun
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According to online marketplace Auto Trader, JLR took the top slot on its new car platform in August and is vying for a similar position in September with almost a million ad views in the two months.—
Benj Edwards,
ArsTechnica,
16 Sep. 2025
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The family festival and artisan faire celebrates German culture with live entertainment, including Bavarian music and dance troupes, German food, international refreshments, two beer gardens and a marketplace with 125 local artisan vendors.—
Linda Mcintosh,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
16 Sep. 2025
Verb
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But the carrier avoided big changes in the process and instead focused on a deal with its bondholders, which exchanged almost $800 million in debt for equity, and it was greeted after bankruptcy with persistently higher costs and weaker-than-expected domestic travel demand.—
Leslie Josephs,
CNBC,
18 Sep. 2025
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The app gives owners the option to connect with the owners of their canine's relative, to exchange information about their pets or schedule a playdate.—
Rachael O'Connor,
MSNBC Newsweek,
18 Sep. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Black-market.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/black-market. Accessed 21 Sep. 2025.
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