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
After coming up short en route to the big game, losing to the Kansas City Chiefs in the AFC Championship last season, the signal-caller is candid about his mindset — and what needs to happen for the team and their beloved Bills Mafia to get to the next level.
—
Anna Lazarus Caplan, People.com, 18 June 2025
Elevating a simple concept — party game Mafia but with reality stars — he’s also helped make the competition a surprise breakout for Peacock.
—Mikey O'Connell, HollywoodReporter, 13 June 2025
The number represents the 13th letter of the alphabet, M, in homage to the Mexican Mafia, the powerful Southern California prison gang.
—T. Christian Miller, ProPublica, 12 June 2025
This July, Caroline Phillips and her National Cannabis Festival will return, bringing Big Boi, Three 6 Mafia, Ty Dolla $ign, and Curren$y to Washington DC’s RFK Stadium Festival Grounds for what’s become the largest cannabis festival on the East Coast.
—Kimberly Wilson, Essence, 4 June 2025
See All Example Sentences for Mafia
Anna Lazarus Caplan, People.com, 18 June 2025
Elevating a simple concept — party game Mafia but with reality stars — he’s also helped make the competition a surprise breakout for Peacock.
—Mikey O'Connell, HollywoodReporter, 13 June 2025
The number represents the 13th letter of the alphabet, M, in homage to the Mexican Mafia, the powerful Southern California prison gang.
—T. Christian Miller, ProPublica, 12 June 2025
This July, Caroline Phillips and her National Cannabis Festival will return, bringing Big Boi, Three 6 Mafia, Ty Dolla $ign, and Curren$y to Washington DC’s RFK Stadium Festival Grounds for what’s become the largest cannabis festival on the East Coast.
—Kimberly Wilson, Essence, 4 June 2025
See All Example Sentences for Mafia
Recent Examples of Synonyms for Mafia
Noun
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America's brave men and women are removing murderers, MS-13 gang members, pedophiles, rapists—truly the worst of the worst from Golden State communities.—
James Bickerton,
MSNBC Newsweek,
12 July 2025
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The cartels have also made use of the city’s entrenched street gangs, which have proven more than capable of breaking down the product and delivering it to the streets.—
Jason Meisner,
Chicago Tribune,
11 July 2025
Noun
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Thailand earlier this year implemented measures to crack down on online scam operations in neighboring Myanmar, severing electricity, internet and gas supplies to border towns where the syndicates were based.—
Arkansas Online,
Arkansas Online,
25 June 2025
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Struggling Gatekeepers: In the face of some $44 billion a year in pig-butchering scams conducted by Asian crime syndicates, U.S. banks have failed to prevent mass scale money laundering.—
Cezary Podkul,
ProPublica,
25 June 2025
Noun
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Worse, she’s being painted as a de facto Deep State operative in an administration obsessed with Deep State conspiracies lurking under every desk.—
Pat Beall,
Sun Sentinel,
11 July 2025
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One co-conspirator was charged with obstruction of justice and conspiracy for attempting to conceal and destroy evidence and faces up to 10 years in prison, The Center Square reported.—
Bethany Blankley,
The Washington Examiner,
11 July 2025
Noun
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However, in 1921, white mobs, aided by local officials, set fire to the district, resulting in the deaths of hundreds and the displacement of thousands.—
Jasmine Browley,
Forbes.com,
4 July 2025
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Small, hairy hominids emerge — but the twist is that Superman must protect these Mole Men from the prairie mob who want to shoot the outsiders on sight.—
Los Angeles Times Staff,
Los Angeles Times,
3 July 2025
Noun
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These are Baptism of Fire, The Tower of the Swallow, and Lady of the Lake. Baptism of Fire sees Geralt caught between two warring clans, and Ciri join a group of thieves called The Rats.—
Griff Griffin,
MSNBC Newsweek,
26 June 2025
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The Miller clan, led by its head huncho Master P, were there to dominate everything from music to business in a way that had never been done before from southern artists (or MOST artists in fact).—
Kimberly Wilson,
Essence,
26 June 2025
Noun
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Maintaining brand integrity across a growing and geographically dispersed network is another potential challenge of franchising.—
Don Tarinelli,
Forbes.com,
2 July 2025
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What is the schedule for Hallmark’s Christmas in July 2025? While the Hallmark Channel is airing beloved Christmas movie favorites all month long, the network is also premiering its four-movie franchise Unwrapping Christmas.—
Samantha Stutsman,
People.com,
1 July 2025
Cite this Entry
“Mafia.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/Mafia. Accessed 18 Jul. 2025.
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