black market 1 of 2

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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black-market

2 of 2

verb

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 black market
Noun
On the black market, a single golden lancehead can fetch anywhere between $10,000 to $30,000. Scott Travers, Forbes.com, 27 Mar. 2025 Exorbitant black market prices for rare wildlife specimens and body parts provide funding for terrorist groups, drug cartels and criminal organizations. Bradley J. Cardinale, The Conversation, 27 Mar. 2025
Verb
Now, Keats hawks black-market goods with his mecha-sidekick Herman (voiced by Anthony Mackie), who suffers from Insufferable Wisecracking Comic Relief Syndrome. David Fear, Rolling Stone, 14 Mar. 2025 Ted’s packages containing those goods purchased from a black-market vendor lead Michelle and Cosmo to New Mexico. David Rooney, The Hollywood Reporter, 7 Mar. 2025 See All Example Sentences for black market
Recent Examples of Synonyms for black market
Noun
  • 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
  • This decision follows broader concerns over the economic impact of the trade war.
    Hannah Parry, MSNBC Newsweek, 10 Apr. 2025
Verb
  • Released in 2023, Season 1 of The Last of Us found Joel (Pascal) smuggling an immune teen, Ellie (Ramsey), out of the quarantine zone and across a post-apocalyptic America.
    Tim Lammers, Forbes.com, 14 Apr. 2025
  • Multiple victims were also minors, and at least two were smuggled into the U.S. unaccompanied by a relative or legal guardian, according to the Justice Department.
    Stephen Underwood, Hartford Courant, 12 Apr. 2025
Noun
  • 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
  • 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
  • Jan Nelson has been bartering with her neighbors in Wisconsin for 40 years.
    Kyle Norris, NPR, 11 Apr. 2025
  • 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
  • Versace, long operated as a family-run business, shares similarities with the Prada Group, where Miuccia Prada remains actively involved in leading both Prada and Miu Miu.
    Mecca Pryor, Essence, 14 Apr. 2025
  • Given that 35% of Stellantis vehicles sold in the U.S. are imported, Hummel said Stellantis has a high chance of seeing earnings losses in its North America business.
    Pia Singh, CNBC, 14 Apr. 2025
Verb
  • 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
  • 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
  • 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
  • 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
  • By establishing a common language for inter-agent interaction, A2A allows agents to securely exchange information, coordinate actions and collaborate dynamically without sharing memory or tools.
    Janakiram MSV, Forbes.com, 14 Apr. 2025
  • Her relationship with her husband Michael is more forward-facing, with the two often exchanging playful banter on the Him & Her podcast.
    Virginia Chamlee, People.com, 12 Apr. 2025

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Cite this Entry

“Black market.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/black%20market. Accessed 23 Apr. 2025.

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