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
This isn’t a film about trauma, or smuggled-in social issues, or anything at all, really, besides the honest workaday business of scaring the bejesus out of its audience, rinsing, and repeating with extra vigor.
—
Guy Lodge, Variety, 16 Apr. 2026
She's eventually smuggled out of Gilead.
—Clare Mulroy, USA Today, 16 Apr. 2026
Nairobi, KenyaReuters — A Kenyan court on Wednesday ordered a Chinese man to pay a fine of 1 million shillings ($7,746) and gave him a 12-month jail term for trying to smuggle live ants out of the country.
—CNN Money, 15 Apr. 2026
Recently, a father was caught on video at Disneyland in California seemingly trying to smuggle an older child into the park in the back of a stroller.
—Jessica Mekles, FOXNews.com, 14 Apr. 2026
See All Example Sentences for smuggle
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Guy Lodge, Variety, 16 Apr. 2026
She's eventually smuggled out of Gilead.
—Clare Mulroy, USA Today, 16 Apr. 2026
Nairobi, KenyaReuters — A Kenyan court on Wednesday ordered a Chinese man to pay a fine of 1 million shillings ($7,746) and gave him a 12-month jail term for trying to smuggle live ants out of the country.
—CNN Money, 15 Apr. 2026
Recently, a father was caught on video at Disneyland in California seemingly trying to smuggle an older child into the park in the back of a stroller.
—Jessica Mekles, FOXNews.com, 14 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 20 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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