as in alcohol
illegally produced liquor
getting caught with bootleg during Prohibition could have resulted in a jail sentence
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
as in unauthorized
made or sold illegally
During the Prohibition era, many people made their own bootleg whiskey. He was arrested for selling bootleg copies of the album.
Related Words
Dissimilar Words
as in to smuggle
Related Words
Dissimilar Words
Example Sentences
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
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Recent Examples of bootleg
Nick Romano, Entertainment Weekly, 4 Mar. 2026
Luhrmann spent two years hunting the audio tapes — even buying bootleg recordings — and syncing them with the film footage.
—Lisa Gutierrez, Kansas City Star, 3 Mar. 2026
Al Shipley, SPIN, 25 Dec. 2024
The quarterback can bootleg in and out of the perimeter of cameras, as the testing aims to simulate as many football movements as possible.
—Jourdan Rodrigue, The Athletic, 27 Aug. 2024
See All Example Sentences for bootleg
Noun
The piece wouldn't be officially released online for some time, but a stray audience member or two recorded a bootleg of the screen inside the theater and posted it to social media.
—Nick Romano, Entertainment Weekly, 4 Mar. 2026
Luhrmann spent two years hunting the audio tapes — even buying bootleg recordings — and syncing them with the film footage.
—Lisa Gutierrez, Kansas City Star, 3 Mar. 2026
Verb
Living in Woodstock, New York, Dylan spent a lot of time in nearby Saugerties at the Band’s famous Big Pink house, recording dozens of songs that were heavily bootlegged and sometimes sent to other artists to record.
—Al Shipley, SPIN, 25 Dec. 2024
The quarterback can bootleg in and out of the perimeter of cameras, as the testing aims to simulate as many football movements as possible.
—Jourdan Rodrigue, The Athletic, 27 Aug. 2024
See All Example Sentences for bootleg
Recent Examples of Synonyms for bootleg
Noun
-
In the years after Buffy, Brendon, who did not have any kids, spoke out about struggling with depression as well as alcohol and substance addictions, checking into rehab between multiple arrests, including for domestic violence charges and prescription fraud.—
Julia Moore,
PEOPLE,
17 June 2026
-
Smilianska was never asked to take a test for drugs or alcohol.—
Karen Morfitt,
CBS News,
17 June 2026
Adjective
-
As World Cup soccer fans cheer for their teams in Los Angeles and stadiums across the nation, FBI agents are working in command centers, watching out for unauthorized flying objects.—
Richard Winton,
Los Angeles Times,
18 June 2026
-
In Canada, authorities have banned unauthorized drones from flying over World Cup stadiums and several training sites in Vancouver and Toronto as a security measure.—
Jackson Thompson,
FOXNews.com,
18 June 2026
Verb
-
Perhaps one of them smuggled some fish into the house and gave Varsha a taste behind the family’s back?—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
16 June 2026
-
In 2023, a then-medical assistant working for Avid Healthcare Services was charged with smuggling meth into the jail.—
Theresa Clift,
Sacbee.com,
16 June 2026
Noun
-
And cops found 61 empty and partially empty booze bottles and cans on his boat when it was salvaged from the water the next day.—
David Goodhue,
Miami Herald,
12 June 2026
-
Those who prefer a more low-key atmosphere or to skip the booze should try Miles’ neighborhood walking tours, which have spanned sections of Inglewood, View Park-Windsor Hills and Compton.—
Danielle Dorsey,
Los Angeles Times,
12 June 2026
Verb
-
Bayfront is not a luxury center, but Cohen plans to re-merchandise it with new tenants that would make compatible neighbors for Barneys.—
David Moin,
Footwear News,
11 June 2026
-
The Squeeze team has merchandising, a popular social media presence and tons of support across the country.—
Jason Beede,
The Orlando Sentinel,
22 May 2026
Noun
-
For drinks, lean on pre-batched cocktails, a help-yourself bar, freezer-door cocktails or wine.—
Hanna Wickes,
Miami Herald,
18 June 2026
-
Sandlot Social softly opened this week, offering cheap drinks, beer pong, putt-putt and — perhaps most notably — 10 baseball simulators.—
Jenna Thompson
June 18,
Kansas City Star,
18 June 2026
Verb
-
Supports for some of the branches were put in place in the early 20th century, and the tree was fenced off in the 1970s.—
Sam Peters,
CNN Money,
17 June 2026
-
Board President Tom Olsen said the area's significance came to light after an archeological study was completed last year, when the Minneapolis Park and Recreation Board voted to install fencing around the dog park area.—
Ashley Grams,
CBS News,
17 June 2026
Noun
-
To try some of that moonshine yourself, stop by Adventure Distilling Company for tastings and live music in the summertime.—
Lydia Mansel,
Travel + Leisure,
10 June 2026
-
Yes, this $1.1 million purchase from the Keeneland yearling sale in September of 2023 looked better than a fresh bottle of moonshine in the Aristides, but his hall of fame conditioner will leave the Breeders’ Cup speculation to others for now.—
Danny Brewer,
Forbes.com,
31 May 2026
Cite this Entry
“Bootleg.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/bootleg. Accessed 20 Jun. 2026.
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