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
Not everyone smuggles them into print in the form of an imaginary friend.
—
Ian Parker, New Yorker, 22 Dec. 2025
The Coast Guard, sometimes with help from the Navy, had typically interdicted boats suspected of smuggling drugs in the Caribbean Sea, searched for illicit cargo, and arrested the people aboard for prosecution.
—Konstantin Toropin, Fortune, 21 Dec. 2025
Back in 2023, a rat and an otter were smuggled into a passenger's suitcase on a flight from Bangkok to Taiwan, as Fox News Digital reported at the time.
—Ashley J. Dimella, FOXNews.com, 16 Dec. 2025
His fear is that more cartels will shift drug production away from cocaine - a risky but far less lethal street drug – and will pivot to dealing deadlier synthetic substances such as fentanyl, methamphetamines and nitazenes that can be produced and smuggled more easily.
—Brian Mann, NPR, 15 Dec. 2025
See All Example Sentences for smuggle
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Ian Parker, New Yorker, 22 Dec. 2025
The Coast Guard, sometimes with help from the Navy, had typically interdicted boats suspected of smuggling drugs in the Caribbean Sea, searched for illicit cargo, and arrested the people aboard for prosecution.
—Konstantin Toropin, Fortune, 21 Dec. 2025
Back in 2023, a rat and an otter were smuggled into a passenger's suitcase on a flight from Bangkok to Taiwan, as Fox News Digital reported at the time.
—Ashley J. Dimella, FOXNews.com, 16 Dec. 2025
His fear is that more cartels will shift drug production away from cocaine - a risky but far less lethal street drug – and will pivot to dealing deadlier synthetic substances such as fentanyl, methamphetamines and nitazenes that can be produced and smuggled more easily.
—Brian Mann, NPR, 15 Dec. 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 23 Dec. 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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