smuggler

noun

smug·​gler ˈsmə-glər How to pronounce smuggler (audio)
plural smugglers
Synonyms of smugglernext
: one who smuggles something
The traffic in drugs—especially cocaine—to Florida by sea and air from South America has been generating wealth to rival that of the tourist trade and attracting a cadre of ingenious and ruthless smugglers from around the world.Jeremiah Tax
In nearby Nogales smugglers tunnel 6 ft. under the border and funnel people through.Terry McCarthy
Officials in Paraguay raided a wildlife smuggling operation in its capital city, Asunción, on March 25, recovering two critically endangered Brazilian parrots, which Paraguayan smugglers had hoped to sell in West Germany for $40,000.Focus

Examples of smuggler in a Sentence

during Prohibition, smugglers of alcohol did a brisk business
Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Sure, there were fewer bands, but Keenan worked the phones for weeks tracking down as many of the sailors and smugglers from that era as possible. Jack Crosbie, Rolling Stone, 17 Mar. 2026 Agents were discovering players and then paying smugglers to transport them. Tyler Carmona, Miami Herald, 11 Mar. 2026 On July 9, 2023, a relative paid at least $1,000 to the organization due to the threats, but prosecutors said the smugglers continued demanding additional payments to multiple accounts before releasing the family. Sergio Candido, CBS News, 10 Mar. 2026 Inspectors roam elaborate tunnels used by tomb raiders and smugglers over different eras. Bilge Ebiri, Vulture, 6 Mar. 2026 See All Example Sentences for smuggler

Word History

First Known Use

1661, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of smuggler was in 1661

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Cite this Entry

“Smuggler.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/smuggler. Accessed 24 Mar. 2026.

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