cronies
Loyal political allies
Cronies are close friends or companions, but the word almost always carries negative connotations—implying favoritism, corruption, or mutual back-scratching among insiders.
Politicians reward their cronies with appointments and contracts.
The singular crony exists but appears less often than the plural: The mayor filled city hall with his cronies.
Informal term for friends
- palsInformal term for companions
- chumsClose companions
- matesFriends or breeding partners
- sidekicksLoyal supporting partners
entourage · hangers-on · clique · coterie · posse · crew · gang · squad
Partners in crime
- confederatesAllies in wrongdoing
- conspiratorsSecret joint schemers
- syndicateCombined group pursuing shared interest
- cabalScheming political faction
gang · mob · racketeers · enforcers · muscle · fences · lookouts · wheelman
Loyal subordinates to wrongdoers
- loyalistsFaithful to established authority
- apparatchiksPolitical party operatives
- operativesThose who execute missions
- insidersThose with special access
fixers · backers · donors · appointees · lackeys · yes-men · bagmen · machine
Connected persons or links
- partnersJoint venture participants
- executivesSenior corporate officers
- shareholdersOwners of company stock
- dealmakersThose who negotiate agreements
investors · networkers · insiders · fat-cats · tycoons · magnates · power-brokers · wheeler-dealers
buddies
Informal term for friends
sidekicks · entourage · hangers-on · clique · coterie · posse · crew · gang · squad · regulars
accomplices
Partners in crime
- confederatesAllies in wrongdoing
- conspiratorsSecret joint schemers
- syndicateCombined group pursuing shared interest
cabal · gang · mob · racketeers · enforcers · muscle · fences · lookouts · wheelman · outfit
henchmen
Loyal subordinates to wrongdoers
- loyalistsFaithful to established authority
- apparatchiksPolitical party operatives
- operativesThose who execute missions
insiders · fixers · backers · donors · appointees · lackeys · yes-men · bagmen · machine · patronage
associates
Connected persons or links
- partnersJoint venture participants
- executivesSenior corporate officers
- shareholdersOwners of company stock
dealmakers · investors · networkers · insiders · fat-cats · tycoons · magnates · power-brokers · wheeler-dealers · schmoozing
- power playerspower brokers, insiders, dealmakers, influencers, kingmakers
- oppressorstyrants, despots, dictators, autocrats, authoritarians
- sycophantssycophant, sycophants, toady, toadies, bootlicker
- leadersleader, boss, leaders, bosses, chiefs
- social tiesfriends, pals, buddies, mates, companions
- easy targetssuckers, dupes, marks, patsies, rubes
croniesenemies
Hostile opposing parties
foes · adversaries · enemy · antagonists · nemeses
croniesstrangers
People unknown to you
outsiders · acquaintances · unknown quantities · newcomers · unknowns