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.
Synonyms & Similar Words
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as in to smuggle
Synonyms & Similar Words
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Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of black market
Thao Nguyen, USA TODAY, 18 Mar. 2025
Many consumers who currently rely on credit cards would be forced to turn elsewhere for short-term financing needs, including pawn shops, auto title lenders, or worse—such as loan sharks, unregulated online lenders, and the black market.
—Raja Krishnamoorthi, Newsweek, 13 Mar. 2025
Nora Colomer, Fox News, 24 Feb. 2025
Moore and Qualley portray different versions of the same character in The Substance; Moore's Elisabeth Sparkle seeks out a black-market drug called The Substance after she is fired from her long-running workout television program, only to find that the drug creates a younger version of her.
—Tommy McArdle, People.com, 8 Feb. 2025
See All Example Sentences for black market
Noun
In March 2024, Tin was charged in a four-count indictment that accused him of smuggling eastern box turtles for the global pet trade black market, prosecutors said.
—Thao Nguyen, USA TODAY, 18 Mar. 2025
Many consumers who currently rely on credit cards would be forced to turn elsewhere for short-term financing needs, including pawn shops, auto title lenders, or worse—such as loan sharks, unregulated online lenders, and the black market.
—Raja Krishnamoorthi, Newsweek, 13 Mar. 2025
Verb
This modern horror film stars Demi Moore as Elizabeth Sparkle, an aging celebrity who takes a black-market drug that temporarily creates a younger, better version of herself but has some nasty side effects.
—Nora Colomer, Fox News, 24 Feb. 2025
Moore and Qualley portray different versions of the same character in The Substance; Moore's Elisabeth Sparkle seeks out a black-market drug called The Substance after she is fired from her long-running workout television program, only to find that the drug creates a younger version of her.
—Tommy McArdle, People.com, 8 Feb. 2025
See All Example Sentences for black market
Recent Examples of Synonyms for black market
Noun
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But exactly what are the opportunities and what are the risks now that President Donald Trump is trying to reorder the global economy with an unprecedented trade war?—
Evan Clark,
Footwear News,
10 Apr. 2025
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This decision follows broader concerns over the economic impact of the trade war.—
Hannah Parry,
MSNBC Newsweek,
10 Apr. 2025
Verb
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Authorities caught the 68-year-old trying to smuggle several other Chinese nationals to Guam from the Northern Mariana Islands.—
Michael Loria,
USA Today,
2 Apr. 2025
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At the time, UNESCO warned the public not to trade, import, or export artifacts smuggled from Sudan.—
The Editors of ARTnews,
ARTnews.com,
1 Apr. 2025
Noun
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These are professional shoplifters backed by criminal organizations that plan large-scale thefts and fence the products on the gray market, often selling across state lines or through the internet.—
Meghan Hall,
Sourcing Journal,
2 Apr. 2025
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Resellers operating in the gray market have reportedly been using entities registered outside of China to acquire Nvidia’s newest chips, including the Blackwell GPUs—which are prohibited from being sold to Chinese customers—via companies based in Singapore, Malaysia, Taiwan, and Vietnam.—
Trefis Team,
Forbes.com,
31 Mar. 2025
Verb
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Soho House’s chief art director, Katie Bryan, has helped grow the collection, which decorates its 45 international venues, by bartering memberships for artworks.—
George Nelson,
ARTnews.com,
3 Mar. 2025
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Salim voices its central character, who goes on dangerous missions for the God of Death to barter for the life of his late father.—
EW.com,
EW.com,
12 Mar. 2025
Noun
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South Korea’s acting President, Han Duck-soo, ordered emergency support measures for industries and businesses that will be impacted, including the automobile industry, ordering officials to actively negotiate with Washington to minimize the impact of additional levies.—
Anniek Bao,
CNBC,
3 Apr. 2025
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Each business along the route will also have one golden egg, which will qualify teams for top-tier prizes.—
Orlando Sentinel Staff,
The Orlando Sentinel,
3 Apr. 2025
Verb
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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
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In Chicago, as in other major cities, a few high-profile mobsters battled it out for bootlegging supremacy.—
Sarah Holzmann,
Smithsonian Magazine,
14 Feb. 2025
Noun
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Seven companies own and operate 11 platforms in the marketplace, with Netflix, Foxtel, Nine, Disney, Amazon, Paramount and Seven securing a 90% share of premium VOD category viewership and revenue in 2024.—
Sara Merican,
Deadline,
10 Apr. 2025
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Individuals without formal leadership titles but who cultivate the ability to influence and inspire will move the workforce forward and give their organizations a greater chance to win in the workplace and, thus, win in the marketplace.—
Andrew Deutscher,
Forbes.com,
9 Apr. 2025
Verb
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These Crowns can be exchanged for a variety of prizes, including bonus bets and discounts for traveling.—
Jason D. Greenblatt,
MSNBC Newsweek,
2 Apr. 2025
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Read asserted her innocence and her defense team accused Albert and others who’d been at the party — including an agent with the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives whom Read had exchanged flirty texts with — of fatally assaulting O’Keefe and framing Read for the killing.—
Tim Stelloh,
NBC news,
31 Mar. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Black market.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/black%20market. Accessed 16 Apr. 2025.
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