smuggled; smuggling
ˈsmə-g(ə-)liŋ 
1
: to import or export secretly contrary to the law and especially without paying duties imposed by law
2
: to convey or introduce surreptitiously
: to import or export something in violation of the customs laws
Examples of smuggle in a Sentence
He was arrested for smuggling drugs into the country.
They smuggled immigrants across the border.
The paintings had been smuggled out of the country before the war.
We smuggled his favorite sandwich past the nurse.
Recent Examples on the Web
The Los Angeles County District Attorney’s Office did charge Solis and Lopez, separately, in June and July 2025 — roughly a year after the allegations were made in the lawsuit — for allegedly smuggling Xanax into the county’s juvenile facilities.
—
Jason Henry, Daily News, 24 Apr. 2026
Identical twins Pete and Jay Flores smuggled tons of cocaine for El Chapo and other cartel bosses, making millions in their 20s.
—Kate Linthicum, Los Angeles Times, 22 Apr. 2026
With Wolfgang’s life in danger, his fellow monk Jos Niesen — a member of the Dutch resistance — attempted to smuggle Wolfgang to Switzerland.
—Jackie Hajdenberg, Sun Sentinel, 21 Apr. 2026
Jarvis then spent eight years evading the FBI in Paris, London and Ibiza, after an industrial sized hash-smuggling operation went wrong.
—Richard Johnson, New York Daily News, 19 Apr. 2026
See All Example Sentences for smuggle
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Jason Henry, Daily News, 24 Apr. 2026
Identical twins Pete and Jay Flores smuggled tons of cocaine for El Chapo and other cartel bosses, making millions in their 20s.
—Kate Linthicum, Los Angeles Times, 22 Apr. 2026
With Wolfgang’s life in danger, his fellow monk Jos Niesen — a member of the Dutch resistance — attempted to smuggle Wolfgang to Switzerland.
—Jackie Hajdenberg, Sun Sentinel, 21 Apr. 2026
Jarvis then spent eight years evading the FBI in Paris, London and Ibiza, after an industrial sized hash-smuggling operation went wrong.
—Richard Johnson, New York Daily News, 19 Apr. 2026
See All Example Sentences for smuggle
Cite this Entry
“Smuggle.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/smuggle. Accessed 28 Apr. 2026.
Copy CitationKids Definition
Legal Definition
smuggle
verb
smug·gle
ˈsmə-gəl
smuggled; smuggling
: to import or export secretly and illegally especially to avoid paying duties or to evade enforcement of laws
smuggle drugs
convicted of smuggling weapons
: to export or import something in violation of customs laws
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