Corruption And Bribery

noun a secret criminal organization operating mainly in Italy and the United States and engaging in illegal activities such as gambling, drug-trafficking, and murder

• The Mafia is known for its organized crime activities and influence in certain regions.
• I heard that the Mafia is involved in a lot of illegal activities.
• Watch out for the Mafia, they don't mess around.
• The Mafia of corruption has infiltrated every level of government.

adjective describing a practice of favoring close friends or associates, especially in political appointments or business dealings

• The company's hiring practices have been criticized as being cronyistic, with key positions being filled by friends and relatives of top executives.
• I heard that the promotions at that company are all cronyistic - it's all about who you know.
• The whole system is so cronyistic, it's like a club where only the insiders get ahead.
• The political landscape is rife with cronyistic deals and backroom agreements.

noun a member of a Japanese crime syndicate, similar to the Mafia

adjective relating to the Japanese crime syndicate known as the Yakuza

• The yakuza is a well-organized and powerful criminal syndicate in Japan.
• I heard that the yakuza are involved in a lot of illegal activities.
• Don't mess with the yakuza, they are dangerous.
• The company's CEO was described as the yakuza of the business world, always making shady deals behind closed doors.