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
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
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Recent Examples of black market
Dario Sabaghi, Forbes, 23 Dec. 2024
China is the world’s leader in mercury mining; Mexico has a thriving black market.
—Sallie Tisdale, Harper's Magazine, 2 Dec. 2024
James Grebey, Vulture, 23 Dec. 2024
The film follows Elisabeth, played by Moore, a celebrity who takes a black-market substance to create a younger, better version of herself named Sue, played by Qualley.
—Julia Teti, WWD, 10 Dec. 2024
See all Example Sentences for black market 
Noun
Modeled on similar initiatives in Switzerland, these programs will involve thousands of participants and focus on reducing black market consumption while studying impacts on public health.
—Dario Sabaghi, Forbes, 23 Dec. 2024
China is the world’s leader in mercury mining; Mexico has a thriving black market.
—Sallie Tisdale, Harper's Magazine, 2 Dec. 2024
Verb
Ralph Fiennes plays a black-market dealer of SQUIDS — devices that tap into a wearer’s cerebral cortex and fully capture their experiences so others can relive them.
—James Grebey, Vulture, 23 Dec. 2024
The film follows Elisabeth, played by Moore, a celebrity who takes a black-market substance to create a younger, better version of herself named Sue, played by Qualley.
—Julia Teti, WWD, 10 Dec. 2024
See all Example Sentences for black market
Recent Examples of Synonyms for black market
Noun
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Barring a trade, and his name has been mentioned in rumors, Cronenworth will again start on the infield.—
Jeff Sanders,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
17 Jan. 2025
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Jim waits 45 minutes after sending a trade alert before buying or selling a stock in his charitable trust's portfolio.—
Jeff Marks,
CNBC,
17 Jan. 2025
Verb
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The parties debated for months over the presence of Israeli military forces on the Gaza side of the border with Egypt, a stretch through which Israel said Hamas was smuggling weapons.—
Shane Harris,
The Atlantic,
17 Jan. 2025
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The report said detainees were able to get contraband in through holes in the building and that some jail staff also smuggled in items, including cocaine and oxycodone.—
Minnah Arshad,
USA TODAY,
16 Jan. 2025
Noun
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And of the many unlicensed home care aides who work in gray market, many are immigrants, including many who are undocumented.—
Howard Gleckman,
Forbes,
15 Jan. 2025
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There are also active gray markets on Chinese apps and e-commerce platforms in Southeast Asia, where popular and rare dolls sell at several times their original prices.—
Lionel Lim,
Fortune Asia,
20 Dec. 2024
Verb
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In a post-apocalyptic world from a catastrophic earthquake, one apartment building that didn’t collapse becomes a bartering market.—
Scott Roxborough,
The Hollywood Reporter,
17 Jan. 2025
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Lebanon’s system of government requires the new president to convene consultations with lawmakers to nominate a Sunni Muslim prime minister to form a new cabinet, a process that can often be protracted as factions barter over ministerial portfolios.—
Reuters,
NBC News,
9 Jan. 2025
Noun
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This feature will also track the influence campaigns — from business, lobbying shops and more — aimed squarely at congressional Republicans who are in the driver seat this year to implement sweeping tax changes and extensions.—
Aris Folley,
The Hill,
20 Jan. 2025
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Trump sported for the 2017 inaugural, the former model chose Lippes, who has been building his namesake business relatively quietly.—
Rosemary Feitelberg,
WWD,
20 Jan. 2025
Verb
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Living in Woodstock, New York, Dylan spent a lot of time in nearby Saugerties at the Band’s famous Big Pink house, recording dozens of songs that were heavily bootlegged and sometimes sent to other artists to record.—
Al Shipley,
SPIN,
25 Dec. 2024
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The quarterback can bootleg in and out of the perimeter of cameras, as the testing aims to simulate as many football movements as possible.—
Jourdan Rodrigue,
The Athletic,
27 Aug. 2024
Noun
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While current data show that youth use remains low, the FDA is closely monitoring the marketplace and is committed to taking action, as appropriate, to best protect public health.—
Yaakov Katz,
Newsweek,
17 Jan. 2025
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Sales through the company’s third-party marketplace, Target Plus, grew close to 50% in that time.—
Melissa Repko,
CNBC,
16 Jan. 2025
Verb
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According to a guide by One Mile at a Time, seat swaps are most successful when passengers propose equitable trades, such as exchanging an aisle seat for another aisle seat.—
Kristen Waggoner,
Newsweek,
22 Jan. 2025
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But because of the draft picks exchanged, that amount is likely to end up closer to $30 million.—
John Hollinger,
The Athletic,
21 Jan. 2025
Thesaurus Entries Near black market
Cite this Entry
“Black market.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/black%20market. Accessed 29 Jan. 2025.
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