Illegal Activities

noun a person, place, thing, or idea

adjective a word that describes or modifies a noun or pronoun

• The authorities are cracking down on illicit business activities in the city.
• I heard that some of the guys are involved in some shady business deals.
• They're running an underground operation, doing some sketchy business on the side.
• The illicit business of spreading rumors can be just as damaging as any other illegal activity.

noun the act of violating the law

adjective relating to or involved in breaking the law

• The act of lawbreaking is a serious offense that can result in legal consequences.
• If you keep lawbreaking like that, you're going to get yourself in trouble.
• He's always out there lawbreaking, thinking he's above the rules.
• Her rebellious spirit often leads her to acts of lawbreaking against societal norms.

noun the act of stealing goods during a war or riot

• The authorities are investigating reports of looting in the aftermath of the natural disaster.
• Did you hear about the looting that happened downtown last night?
• Some people were caught looting the store during the chaos.
• He was accused of looting the company's funds for his own personal gain.

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.

noun a group of individuals working together to engage in illegal activities for financial gain

• The investigation uncovered a sophisticated network of organized crime operating in the city.
• I heard that the organized crime syndicate is behind the recent string of robberies.
• The cops are cracking down on the organized crime ring in the neighborhood.
• Corruption in the government was like an organized crime, with officials working together for their own gain.

verb to take or acquire in an unfair or dishonest way

• The company has a strict policy against poaching employees from competitors.
• I heard that company X tried to poach some of our best engineers.
• I can't believe she tried to poach my idea and pass it off as her own.
• The hunter silently crept through the forest, hoping to poach a deer for dinner.

noun the act of searching for historical artifacts at night with a metal detector, typically without permission

verb to engage in the act of searching for historical artifacts at night with a metal detector, typically without permission

• Nighthawking is the illegal act of searching for and stealing archaeological artifacts under the cover of darkness.
• I heard some people were nighthawking in the old ruins last night.
• Those nighthawkers better watch out for the authorities.
• The thief operated like a nighthawker, sneaking in and out without being detected.

noun a taxicab that operates without a license or outside of the regulations of a licensed taxi service

• I would advise against taking a gypsy cab as they are often unregulated and unsafe.
• Let's just grab a gypsy cab to get to the party quicker.
• We hopped in a gypsy cab to avoid the long wait for a regular taxi.
• Her makeshift business felt like a gypsy cab, operating on the fringes of legality.