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
Beginning in September 2022, the FBI and Hartford Police Department interviewed several Mexican nationals who alleged that they were smuggled from Mexico into the U.S. and transported to Hartford, court records show.
—
Staff Report, Hartford Courant, 8 Mar. 2025
Most of that fentanyl is then smuggled into the U.S. enters through legal ports of entry, hidden in cargo shipments, stuffed into vehicle compartments, or even carried by individual drug mules.
—William Lambers, Newsweek, 7 Mar. 2025
The Jalisco cartel is better known for producing millions of doses of deadly fentanyl and smuggling them into the U.S. disguised to look like Xanax, Percocet or oxycodone.
—CBS News, 7 Mar. 2025
The Mexican nationals and a U.S. citizen were caught attempting to smuggle 24 Mexican nationals into the U.S. illegally, authorities said.
—Sarah Rumpf-Whitten, Fox News, 6 Mar. 2025
See All Example Sentences for smuggle
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.
Staff Report, Hartford Courant, 8 Mar. 2025
Most of that fentanyl is then smuggled into the U.S. enters through legal ports of entry, hidden in cargo shipments, stuffed into vehicle compartments, or even carried by individual drug mules.
—William Lambers, Newsweek, 7 Mar. 2025
The Jalisco cartel is better known for producing millions of doses of deadly fentanyl and smuggling them into the U.S. disguised to look like Xanax, Percocet or oxycodone.
—CBS News, 7 Mar. 2025
The Mexican nationals and a U.S. citizen were caught attempting to smuggle 24 Mexican nationals into the U.S. illegally, authorities said.
—Sarah Rumpf-Whitten, Fox News, 6 Mar. 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 20 Mar. 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
Love words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share