band, circle, lot, set - an unofficial association of people or groups; "the smart set goes there"; "they were an angry lot"

Bloomsbury Group - an inner circle of writers and artists and philosophers who lived in or around Bloomsbury early in the 20th century and were noted for their unconventional lifestyles

kitchen cabinet - an inner circle of unofficial advisors to the head of a government

loop - an inner circle of advisors (especially under President Reagan); "he's no longer in the loop"

cabal, camarilla, faction, junto - a clique (often secret) that seeks power usually through intrigue

junta, military junta - a group of military officers who rule a country after seizing power

maffia, mafia - any tightly knit group of trusted associates

faction, sect - a dissenting clique

galere, rogue's gallery - a coterie of undesirable people

hard core - the most dedicated and intensely loyal nucleus of a group or movement