racketeering 1 of 2

noun

as in gangsterism

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racketeering

2 of 2

verb

present participle of racketeer
as in extorting

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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 racketeering
Noun
Montano drove the getaway car, a witness testified at Loza’s federal racketeering trial in 2019. — Matthew Ormseth, Los Angeles Times, 9 Oct. 2026 The owner of the pharmacy was later convicted of racketeering and other offenses by a federal jury. — Alana Semuels, Time, 7 Oct. 2026 Troutman is charged with conspiracy to possess narcotics with intent to distribute, Hobbs Act extortion under color of official right and racketeering promotion. — Sofia Saric, Miami Herald, 1 Oct. 2026 Brown’s racketeering conspiracy charge carried a maximum penalty of 20 years in prison, three years of supervised release and a $250,000 fine. — Judy L. Thomas, Kansas City Star, 1 Oct. 2026 Gunna spent about four years in prison for his role in a wide-ranging racketeering case involving several Atlanta rap personalities. — Aj Willingham, AJC.com, 19 Sep. 2026 Danette Colbert, 49, was also convicted of racketeering, as was her accomplice, 35-year-old Rickey White, according to Paul Purpura, a spokesperson for the district attorney's office. — CBS News, 18 Sep. 2026 Colbert, 49, and her co-defendant, Rickey White, 35, were also both found guilty of racketeering. — Meredith Deliso, ABC News, 18 Sep. 2026 About a decade ago, this office also prosecuted FIFA officials and sports-marketing executives for racketeering, wire fraud and money laundering over bribes and kickbacks. — Michael McCann, Sportico.com, 11 Sep. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for racketeering
  1. gangsterism
  2. extorting
  3. malfeasance
  4. blackmailing
  5. criminality
  6. coercing
  7. misconduct
  8. wresting
Noun
  • Plot summary The movie is set in Chicago in the 1930s, a time of economic deprivation and bold gangsterism and outlawry.
    — Alison Eldridge, Encyclopedia Britannica, 27 Feb. 2026
Definition of gangsterism
Verb
  • Among the new rackets were providing cheap workers to new industries, ruling the docks of large port cities, extorting money from trading companies, and working for political parties to intimidate rival voters.
    — Ian Buruma, New Yorker, 12 Oct. 2026
  • He was accused of extorting private contractors for bribes between 2018 and 2021 in exchange for helping the companies keep and obtain work on school construction contracts.
    — David Zimmermann, The Washington Examiner, 17 Sep. 2026
Definition of extorting
Noun
  • There was a great deal of anger—about government malfeasance, a widening wealth gap, and an impossibly tight labor market—especially among young Koreans like Oh.
    — E. Tammy Kim, New Yorker, 12 Oct. 2026
  • With many in the party pushing for investigations of potential malfeasance by the administration, party leaders will face tough choices about consequences if those probes do turn up wrongdoing.
    — Nicholas Wu, semafor.com, 9 Oct. 2026
Definition of malfeasance
Verb
  • Earlier in the day, shoppers who use the company’s app started posting screenshots of a push alert that appeared to be an attempt at blackmailing the retailer.
    — Evan Clark, Footwear News, 6 Oct. 2026
  • The software might pursue options such as blackmailing its opponent or grabbing more compute time.
    — Deven Desai, The Conversation, 29 Sep. 2026
Definition of blackmailing
Noun
  • Van Houten ultimately determined the allegations did not warrant charges because of a lack of criminality.
    — Marlene Lenthang, NBC news, 5 Oct. 2026
  • Law enforcement officials are investigating, but the NYPD said there is no criminality at this time.
    — Alexa Herrera, CBS News, 5 Oct. 2026
Definition of criminality
Verb
  • In lawsuits filed last year, Chegg and PMC accused Google of abusing its monopoly power by coercing publishers into supplying content for AI Overviews for free, or risk disappearing from search results.
    — Emma Roth, The Verge, 1 Oct. 2026
  • Playing that cat, a work camp warden coercing Hawke’s character into smuggling gold through the wilderness, is none other than Russell Crowe.
    — Jack Smart, PEOPLE, 1 Sep. 2026
Definition of coercing
Noun
  • The Justice Department has charged about 90 people for various types of election misconduct so far this year, including 50 who are said to have voted as noncitizens.
    — SAFIYAH RIDDLE, Arkansas Online, 15 Oct. 2026
  • SafeSport, a nonprofit established to prevent the abuse of athletes and address misconduct allegations, was dismissed as a defendant in two lawsuits filed by gymnasts that allege the organization did not properly investigate Gardner.
    — Steve Henson, Los Angeles Times, 15 Oct. 2026
Definition of misconduct
Verb
  • The state has passed a string of laws wresting power over local development away from local government.
    — Nico Rivero, Miami Herald, 2 Oct. 2026
  • The leader of the group, Lydell Henry, told our partners at the Baltimore Banner the fan group had so far raised $13,000 for his group, which teaches wresting and provides after-school support to low income youth.
    — Bryan Lynn, CBS News, 6 Aug. 2026
Definition of wresting

Browse Nearby Words

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Cite this Entry

“Racketeering.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/racketeering. Accessed 20 Oct. 2026.

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