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Showing results for cabal. Search instead for cabl.
Definitions

cabal

[kuh-bal, kuh-bawl] / kəˈbæl, kəˈbɔl /
NOUN
plot
Synonyms


Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

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Conspiracy theories surfaced online that the whale had been deliberately driven into the Baltic Sea and all had been staged by a cabal of scientists, authorities and environmental organisations.

From Barron's ● Apr. 23, 2026

This is evidently what the investment cabal has done.

From MarketWatch ● Jan. 16, 2026

Then he traces how a theocratic cabal, whose rule most observers thought would be short, found a way to consolidate power.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Dec. 3, 2025

Not just any action movie either — the sinister leader of the cabal Gi-hun sets himself against likens his vengeance quest to the central choice in “The Matrix.”

From Salon ● Dec. 26, 2024

Once we passed a cabal of figures in black cloaks and tricornes carrying torches and whispering together.

From "The Astonishing Life of Octavian Nothing, Traitor to the Nation, Volume I: The Pox Party" by M.T. Anderson

That Epstein’s crimes were confined to himself and a few enablers, chiefly Ghislaine Maxwell, was intolerable to influencers and politicos determined to attribute all bad things to the dark workings of cabals.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Feb. 11, 2026

So rather than accepting that the world is a complicated place nobody can control, they're susceptible to the idea that there are secret cabals out to get them.

From Salon ● Jul. 17, 2023

“As soon as they heard that, a lot of cabals here in Hollywood, that’s all they needed to hear. It’s like, ‘OK, she must be destroyed.’

From Washington Times ● Oct. 3, 2019

As Secret Service chief, he employed small-time crooks to topple counterfeiting rings, reasoning that only underworld types could permeate these cabals.

From Washington Post ● Apr. 11, 2019

Men muttered in small cabals or threatened one another by the fireside, cutting each other with their eyes and hissing, vaunting superiority in their familiarity with the Unseen.

From "The Astonishing Life of Octavian Nothing, Traitor to the Nation, Volume II: The Kingdom on the Waves" by M.T. Anderson

They caballed, traduced the Baron, and he fell into disgrace.

From After London Or, Wild England by Richard Jefferies

The bishops and champions of different parties caballed to draw over the emperor to their side, and thus aid them in crushing their adversaries.

From Ecce Homo! A Critical Inquiry into the History of Jesus of Nazareth: Being a Rational Analysis of the Gospels by Paul Henry Thiry Baron d' Holbach

Europe was fluttered, secret service money was poured out like water, diplomatists caballed and scribbled despatches, all for very little. 

From Pickle the Spy; Or, the Incognito of Prince Charles by Andrew Lang

While here, Alketas, Polemon, and Dokimus caballed against him, claiming the supreme command for themselves.

From Plutarch's Lives Volume III. by Aubrey Stewart

A club of wits caballed and produced a collection of short poems sarcastically entitled “Certain Verses written by several of the Author’s Friends, to be reprinted in the Second Edition of ‘Gondibert,’” 1653.

From Calamities and Quarrels of Authors by Isaac Disraeli

Henry Kissinger happened to be visiting London at the time and witnessed the caballing against her.

From Newsweek ● Apr. 8, 2013

By dint of caballing, he succeeded in obtaining an open competition for the work in question; whoever chose, was at liberty to send in his picture, and the best would obtain the preference.

From Blackwood's Edinburgh Magazine - Volume 62, No. 384, October 1847 by Various

Princes, equerries, physicians, pages—all conferring, whispering, plotting, and caballing, how to induce the king to set off!

From The Diary and Letters of Madame D'Arblay — Volume 2 by Fanny Burney

The Dominie’s kindness and attention were unremitting, and no one ever thought of caballing against me.

From Jacob Faithful by Frederick Marryat

Still busily seeking, I suppose, to be a pick-thanks with those in power by casting ridicule on those they are caballing to destroy.”

From Janice Meredith by Paul Leicester Ford


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