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
Images smuggled out of the country showed a Tehran-area morgue packed with hundreds of bodies from Thursday night alone.
—
Karl Vick, Time, 13 Jan. 2026
And last week, Saudi Arabia accused the United Arab Emirates of using Somaliland as a transit point to smuggle the leader of a separatist group out of southern Yemen.
—Sam Metz, Los Angeles Times, 13 Jan. 2026
Once the code was given, Wedding’s associates would hand over a shipment of cocaine — up to 350 kilos per run — which the truckers would then smuggle into Canada.
—Jesse Hyde, Rolling Stone, 10 Jan. 2026
Starlink terminals are known to have been smuggled into Iran during the last large round of protests in 2022 and 2023.
—Colin Sheeley, NBC news, 10 Jan. 2026
See All Example Sentences for smuggle
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Karl Vick, Time, 13 Jan. 2026
And last week, Saudi Arabia accused the United Arab Emirates of using Somaliland as a transit point to smuggle the leader of a separatist group out of southern Yemen.
—Sam Metz, Los Angeles Times, 13 Jan. 2026
Once the code was given, Wedding’s associates would hand over a shipment of cocaine — up to 350 kilos per run — which the truckers would then smuggle into Canada.
—Jesse Hyde, Rolling Stone, 10 Jan. 2026
Starlink terminals are known to have been smuggled into Iran during the last large round of protests in 2022 and 2023.
—Colin Sheeley, NBC news, 10 Jan. 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 16 Jan. 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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