peddle

verb

ped·​dle ˈpe-dᵊl 

peddled; peddling ˈped-liŋ 

ˈpe-dᵊl-iŋ

intransitive verb

1

: to travel about with wares for sale

broadly : sell

peddling without a license

2

: to be busy with trifles : piddle

transitive verb

1

: to sell or offer for sale from place to place : hawk

broadly : sell

They peddled fruits and vegetables from a truck on the side of the road.

2

: to deal out or seek to disseminate

… peddling personal advice.

—G. F. Kennan

3

: to offer or promote as valuable

peddled snake oils and miracle lotions

Synonyms of peddle

• hawk
• distribute
• wholesale

Examples of peddle in a Sentence

They peddled fruits and vegetables out of their truck on the side of the road.

He peddled his idea for a new movie to every executive in Hollywood.

The mayor's aides tried to peddle his innocence to reporters.

Recent Examples on the Web

The barely disguised soullessness with which AI leaders operate, perhaps, has provided a window for entrepreneurs to peddle a more humane message, in good faith or not in good faith, naively or cynically. —Frank Landymore, Futurism, 22 Jan. 2026

Proposition 36 enacted a transformative approach targeting these issues, mandating treatment programs for those suffering from addiction and increasing penalties for repeat theft offenders and those peddling deadly drugs like fentanyl. —Mike Hestrin, Oc Register, 22 Jan. 2026

Both sides in the legal dispute have accused the other of peddling false and misleading facts, terminology and narratives about enforcement of the state laws, and the stakes for both transgender and cisgender athletes. —Jackson Thompson, FOXNews.com, 12 Jan. 2026

The museum suspects a former curator of peddling the goods on eBay — in one instance, a $60,000 piece of jewelry sold for merely $48 — but has only recovered some 650 items. —Brendan Ruberry, semafor.com, 8 Jan. 2026

Word History

Etymology

back-formation from peddler, from Middle English pedlere, alteration of pedder peddler

First Known Use

1532, in the meaning defined at intransitive sense 1

Phrases Containing peddle

• peddle one's wares

Rhymes for peddle

• bedell
• heddle
• medal
• meddle
• pedal
• wedel
• bipedal
• intermeddle

Kids Definition

peddle

verb

ped·​dle ˈped-ᵊl 

peddled; peddling -liŋ 

-ᵊl-iŋ

1

: to travel about especially from house to house with goods for sale

2

: to sell from place to place usually in small quantities

3

: to present (something) in a manner that is intended to convince others of its value

peddled her opinion to her friends

peddler noun

also pedlar

ˈped-lər