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
Drones in the air can shut down airports, disrupt stadium events, smuggle contraband into prisons or threaten critical infrastructure.
—
Jan Wagner, San Diego Union-Tribune, 28 Feb. 2026
Hickinbottom smuggles the little kitten aboard his ship, the HMS Amethyst, and the crew obviously immediately falls in love with him and names the little tuxedo cat Simon.
—Popular Science Team, Popular Science, 27 Feb. 2026
The artifacts were returned under a 2020 agreement between the Ministry of Culture and Fine Arts and the family of the late Douglas Latchford, an art collector and dealer who is blamed for having had the items smuggled out of Cambodia.
—ABC News, 27 Feb. 2026
Guns had already been smuggled into the Stammheim prison and hidden in the cells of the RAF leaders.
—Jason Burke, Time, 27 Feb. 2026
See All Example Sentences for smuggle
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Jan Wagner, San Diego Union-Tribune, 28 Feb. 2026
Hickinbottom smuggles the little kitten aboard his ship, the HMS Amethyst, and the crew obviously immediately falls in love with him and names the little tuxedo cat Simon.
—Popular Science Team, Popular Science, 27 Feb. 2026
The artifacts were returned under a 2020 agreement between the Ministry of Culture and Fine Arts and the family of the late Douglas Latchford, an art collector and dealer who is blamed for having had the items smuggled out of Cambodia.
—ABC News, 27 Feb. 2026
Guns had already been smuggled into the Stammheim prison and hidden in the cells of the RAF leaders.
—Jason Burke, Time, 27 Feb. 2026
See All Example Sentences for smuggle
Cite this Entry
“Smuggle.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/smuggle. Accessed 10 Mar. 2026.
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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