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
Their job was to guide (and smuggle) me through the tribal areas of the country, exposing me to places where visitors, especially Americans, were officially forbidden.
—
Kaitlin Stevens, PEOPLE, 6 Oct. 2025
Belarusian smugglers are increasingly using the balloons, which are much cheaper than drones, for smuggling cigarettes into the European Union, Buta said.
—Danny Bakst, Fortune, 5 Oct. 2025
Some people inside Afghanistan managed to get messages out via Elon Musk’s Starlink satellite internet network – and as the days wore on, desperate families had talked about trying to smuggle in more Starlink units, Solaimankhil said.
—Hilary Whiteman, CNN Money, 3 Oct. 2025
After escaping prison in New Jersey in November 1979, Shakur lived in hiding for several years before being smuggled to Cuba, where Fidel Castro’s government granted her asylum in 1984.
—Essence, 30 Sep. 2025
See All Example Sentences for smuggle
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Kaitlin Stevens, PEOPLE, 6 Oct. 2025
Belarusian smugglers are increasingly using the balloons, which are much cheaper than drones, for smuggling cigarettes into the European Union, Buta said.
—Danny Bakst, Fortune, 5 Oct. 2025
Some people inside Afghanistan managed to get messages out via Elon Musk’s Starlink satellite internet network – and as the days wore on, desperate families had talked about trying to smuggle in more Starlink units, Solaimankhil said.
—Hilary Whiteman, CNN Money, 3 Oct. 2025
After escaping prison in New Jersey in November 1979, Shakur lived in hiding for several years before being smuggled to Cuba, where Fidel Castro’s government granted her asylum in 1984.
—Essence, 30 Sep. 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 8 Oct. 2025.
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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