coterie, clique, entourage, confidant, loyalists, cronies, aides, praetorian guard, cabal, lieutenants, confidante, associates, advisers, sycophants, retinue, acolytes, clan, consigliere, bodyguards, appointees, protege, minions, insiders, underlings, intimates, henchmen, princeling, flunkies, confide, elite, cabinet, subordinates, fiefdom, courtiers, loyal, allies, cohorts, disloyal, hierarchy, flatterers, apparat, machinations, sycophantic, trusted, regime, handpicked, posse, advisors, family, machiavellian, shadow cabinet, secretive, autocratic, followers, omnipotent, echelons, meddler, deposed, circle, viscounts, alienated, irangate, friends, influence peddler, whom, factotums, sanctum, unelected, loose cannon, backstairs, heir apparent, admirers, assassinate, privy, megalomanic, nomenklatura, micromanager, ingratiated, nepotistic, mistrusted, aloof, persona grata, spinmeister, diplomatic corps, whispering, eccentricities, blabby, triumvirate, placeman, pals, roman curia, acquaintances, distrusted, influential, mukhabarat, aristocracy, sycophancy, broederbond, svengali, successors, faction, curry favor

cabal, camarilla, faction, galere, junta, junto, loop, maffia, mafia, rogue's gallery, sect

band, circle, lot, set

camp, clique, coterie, ingroup, pack