cabal

[ kuh-bal ]

/ kəˈbæl /

SEE MORE SYNONYMS FOR cabal ON THESAURUS.COM

noun

a small group of secret plotters, as against a government or person in authority.

the plots and schemes of such a group; intrigue.

a clique, as in artistic, literary, or theatrical circles.

verb (used without object), ca·balled, ca·bal·ling.

to form a cabal; intrigue; conspire; plot.

RELATED WORDS

scheme, conspiracy, intrigue

Nearby words

caaba, cab, cab rank rule, cab stand, cab-over, cabal, cabala, cabaletta, cabalism, cabalist, cabalistic

Origin of cabal

1610–20, for an earlier sense; earlier cabbal < Medieval Latin cabbala. See cabala

SYNONYMS FOR cabal

1 junta, faction, band, league, ring.

SEE MORE SYNONYMS FOR cabal ON THESAURUS.COM

Related formsca·bal·ler, noun

Can be confusedcabal cabala

Synonym study

2. See conspiracy.

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2019

Examples from the Web for cabal

A cabal can do it, selling their influence to the highest bidder.
Valerie Jarrett, Obama Consigliere—and Democracy Killer|James Poulos|November 12, 2014|DAILY BEAST
The arms dealer sells it to a mysterious neo-Nazi cabal, which then detonates it in Baltimore.
Want To Know What America Thinks of Itself? Watch Jack Ryan on Wall Street|Andrew Romano|January 18, 2014|DAILY BEAST
LIBOR is the very definition of a rate set by a cabal, ripe for collusion.
Don’t Just Blame Banks for Barclays Interest-Rates Mess|Zachary Karabell|July 12, 2012|DAILY BEAST
Silicon Valley has its own weaknesses: the cabal of successful investors is small and insular.
Don't De-Friend Facebook Yet: Its IPO Might Not Mean Trouble Ahead|Zachary Karabell|May 19, 2012|DAILY BEAST

They even worry that a neo-con "cabal" has co-opted internal party debates, just as liberals have long maintained.
The New GOP Warmongers|Matt Latimer|March 22, 2011|DAILY BEAST
In the meanwhile, a cabal was going on against the old Ministry.
The Diplomatic Correspondence of the American Revolution, Volume X (of 12)|Various
But the King and the Jesuitical cabal had determined that the disgrace of the Hydes should be complete.
The History of England from the Accession of James II.|Thomas Babington Macaulay
The cabal made a great noise to cover this monstrous audacity, and endeavoured to renew the attack against the Duc de Bourgogne.
The Memoirs of Louis XIV., His Court and The Regency, Complete|Duc de Saint-Simon
Meanwhile the cabal against the ruined Ripperda raged with redoubled fury in the Spanish cabinet.
The Pastor's Fire-side Vol. 3 of 4|Jane Porter
His conduct was, in fact, much remarked, and the cabal opposed to him entirely reduced to silence.
The Memoirs of Louis XIV., His Court and The Regency, Complete|Duc de Saint-Simon

British Dictionary definitions for cabal (1 of 2)

cabal

/ (kəˈbæl) /

noun

a small group of intriguers, esp one formed for political purposes

a secret plot, esp a political one; conspiracy; intrigue

a secret or exclusive set of people; clique

verb -bals, -balling or -balled (intr)

to form a cabal; conspire; plot

Word Origin for cabal

C17: from French cabale, from Medieval Latin cabala; see cabbala

British Dictionary definitions for cabal (2 of 2)

Cabal

/ (kəˈbæl) /

noun

the Cabal English history a group of ministers of Charles II that governed from 1667–73: consisting of Clifford, Ashley, Buckingham, Arlington, and Lauderdale

Word Origin for Cabal

see kabbalah; by a coincidence, the initials of Charles II's ministers can be arranged to form this word

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Word Origin and History for cabal

cabal

1520s, "mystical interpretation of the Old Testament," later "society, small group meeting privately" (1660s), from French cabal, in both senses, from Medieval Latin cabbala (see cabbala). Popularized in English 1673 as an acronym for five intriguing ministers of Charles II (Clifford, Arlington, Buckingham, Ashley, and Lauderdale), which gave the word its sinister connotations.