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 surveillance helped investigators ascertain that these men, most of whom lived in Dubai, were working together to launder money and smuggle cocaine from South America to Europe.
—
Ed Caesar, New Yorker, 20 Oct. 2025
Once filmmakers completed the 28-day shoot, a rough cut was smuggled out of Iran.
—Hugh Hart, IndieWire, 17 Oct. 2025
But a comparable amount is also smuggled out via Chad, the Central African Republic, Ethiopia, and Egypt—nearly all destined for the UAE.
—Charlie Campbell, Time, 15 Oct. 2025
In 2011, the same year Farhadi’s Oscar-winning A Separation premiered, Panahi’s This Is Not a Film was smuggled into Cannes on a USB stick.
—Roxana Hadadi, Vulture, 14 Oct. 2025
See All Example Sentences for smuggle
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Ed Caesar, New Yorker, 20 Oct. 2025
Once filmmakers completed the 28-day shoot, a rough cut was smuggled out of Iran.
—Hugh Hart, IndieWire, 17 Oct. 2025
But a comparable amount is also smuggled out via Chad, the Central African Republic, Ethiopia, and Egypt—nearly all destined for the UAE.
—Charlie Campbell, Time, 15 Oct. 2025
In 2011, the same year Farhadi’s Oscar-winning A Separation premiered, Panahi’s This Is Not a Film was smuggled into Cannes on a USB stick.
—Roxana Hadadi, Vulture, 14 Oct. 2025
See All Example Sentences for smuggle
Cite this Entry
“Smuggle.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/smuggle. Accessed 22 Oct. 2025.
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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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