underworld
Realm of criminals
The underworld is the realm of the dead in mythology—a subterranean place where souls go after death: Orpheus descended to the underworld to retrieve Eurydice.
Greek Hades, Roman Pluto's domain, and similar afterlife regions in other traditions all qualify.
By extension, underworld refers to the criminal element of society, those operating beneath respectable life: He had connections to the underworld, the Chicago underworld of the 1920s.
The metaphor works because both are hidden, beneath the surface, and governed by their own rules.
Organized crime member
- gangsterCriminal organization member
- mafiaCriminal organization using intimidation
- cartelPrice-fixing coalition
- syndicateCombined group pursuing shared interest
kingpin · hitman · smuggler · racketeer · druglord · capo · conman · blackmailer
Greek afterlife realm
- TartarusDeepest realm of punishment
- StyxMythological boundary water
- CharonMythical underworld ferryman
- CerberusMythical watchdog of death's realm
Persephone · Elysium · Orpheus · Sisyphus · Furies · Minos · Acheron · Lethe
Existence beyond mortality
- infernoDevastating, uncontrollable blaze
- purgatoryPlace of temporary suffering
- limboState of uncertain waiting
- abyssImmeasurably profound depth
Sheol · Helheim · pit · depths · spirit world · shadow realm · lower world · nether region
Armed roadside thief
- brigandArmed robber, often rural
- highwaymanMounted thief targeting travelers
- desperadoBold, reckless outlaw
- buccaneerCaribbean colonial-era pirate
marauder · bushranger · outlaw · fugitive · cutthroat · pirate · rustler · thug
Concealed from authorities
- covertIntentionally concealed
- hiddenKept out of sight
- secretiveInclined to conceal
- furtiveSecretive and sly
surreptitious · illicit · black market · back alley · shady · murky · dark · seamy
Rundown and disreputable
- grittyCoarse or courageous
- viceBad habit or deputy
- corruptionDishonest abuse of power
- squalorDirty, degraded living conditions
slum · degradation · exploitation · red-light district · den of iniquity · lowlife · dregs · dark side
mobster
Organized crime member
- gangsterCriminal organization member
- mafiaCriminal organization using intimidation
- cartelPrice-fixing coalition
syndicate · kingpin · hitman · smuggler · racketeer · druglord · capo · conman · blackmailer · extortionist
Hades
Greek afterlife realm
- TartarusDeepest realm of punishment
- StyxMythological boundary water
- CharonMythical underworld ferryman
Cerberus · Persephone · Elysium · Orpheus · Sisyphus · Furies · Minos · Acheron · Lethe · Erebus
afterlife
Existence beyond mortality
- infernoDevastating, uncontrollable blaze
- purgatoryPlace of temporary suffering
- limboState of uncertain waiting
abyss · Sheol · Helheim · pit · depths · spirit world · shadow realm · lower world · nether region · beyond
bandit
Armed roadside thief
- brigandArmed robber, often rural
- highwaymanMounted thief targeting travelers
- desperadoBold, reckless outlaw
buccaneer · marauder · bushranger · outlaw · fugitive · cutthroat · pirate · rustler · thug · hoodlum
clandestine
Concealed from authorities
furtive · surreptitious · illicit · black market · back alley · shady · murky · dark · seamy · undercover
seedy
Rundown and disreputable
- grittyCoarse or courageous
- viceBad habit or deputy
- corruptionDishonest abuse of power
squalor · slum · degradation · exploitation · red-light district · den of iniquity · lowlife · dregs · dark side · cesspool
- Egyptpyramids, Cairo, Sphinx, Nile, pharaoh
- mythologyZeus, Apollo, Athena, Poseidon, Odin
- myths & legendsmyth, legend, fable, fairy tale, folk tale
- imaginary worldsdreamland, fairyland, wonderland, fantasy realm, dream world
- Mythic RealmsAsgard, Avalon, Elysium, Hades, Valhalla
- Odyssey locationsIthaca, Troy, Charybdis, wine-dark sea, great hall
underworldheaven
Sky or bliss
paradise · celestial realm · the heavens · Kingdom of Heaven · sky
underworldestablishment
Founded organization or venue
upper world · polite society · high society · civil society · upper crust
- the underworldRealm of the dead
- criminal underworldIllegal activity's hidden realm
- seedy underworldSociety's corrupt hidden layer
- Greek underworldClassical realm of dead
- dark underworld
- underworld journeyMythic descent to death's realm