as in alcohol
illegally produced liquor
getting caught with bootleg during Prohibition could have resulted in a jail sentence
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
as in unauthorized
made or sold illegally
During the Prohibition era, many people made their own bootleg whiskey. He was arrested for selling bootleg copies of the album.
Related Words
Dissimilar Words
as in to smuggle
Related Words
Dissimilar Words
Example Sentences
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
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Recent Examples of bootleg
Susan Saulny, Smithsonian Magazine, 22 Oct. 2024
Land of the Free, Home of the Bootleggers When technology made music mobile, the American South changed from one type of bootlegging industry to another: copying and selling records.
—JSTOR Daily, 24 June 2024
Jake Goodrick, Sacbee.com, 15 May 2025
Some collect bootleg recordings, rare mementos, or obscure B sides.
—Ernesto Lechner, Rolling Stone, 3 May 2025
See All Example Sentences for bootleg
Noun
This was the era of Prohibition, dominated by bootlegging gangsters—Chicago alone was said to be home to 1,300 gangs—and some police departments adopted increasingly brutal tactics to wring the truth out of suspects: beating and burning detainees with cigarettes, or depriving them of sleep.
—Susan Saulny, Smithsonian Magazine, 22 Oct. 2024
Land of the Free, Home of the Bootleggers When technology made music mobile, the American South changed from one type of bootlegging industry to another: copying and selling records.
—JSTOR Daily, 24 June 2024
Adjective
From early in Dylan’s career, recordings of his music would be leaked, shared and sold as bootlegs at an almost cartoonish rate.
—Jake Goodrick, Sacbee.com, 15 May 2025
Some collect bootleg recordings, rare mementos, or obscure B sides.
—Ernesto Lechner, Rolling Stone, 3 May 2025
See All Example Sentences for bootleg
Recent Examples of Synonyms for bootleg
Noun
-
With a strong focus on local produce and fish, meals can feel restrictive–no alcohol, for example, though there is pasta (this is Italy, after all!).—
Rona Berg,
Forbes.com,
11 July 2025
-
In addition to dams and litter, the busy area sees other off-limits behaviors, such as improper parking, alcohol use and graffiti, Chief Park Ranger James Brown said.—
Ruby Grisin,
The Courier-Journal,
11 July 2025
Adjective
-
The Office of State Budget and Management, if the bill becomes law, would determine if unauthorized immigrants are receiving such benefits.—
Alan Wooten,
The Washington Examiner,
13 July 2025
-
Trump in January signed into law the Laken Riley Act, which requires the detention of unauthorized immigrants accused of theft and violent crimes.—
Christiaan Hetzner,
Fortune,
12 July 2025
Verb
-
On June 1, using hundreds of short-range one-way attack drones smuggled deep into Russian territory, Ukraine was able to significantly damage or destroy at least 11 Russian strategic bombers as part of its Operation Spider’s Web.—
Michael C. Horowitz,
Foreign Affairs,
4 July 2025
-
Meanwhile, the Astors, who had amassed a nearly obscene amount of real estate in New York City, became the country’s first multimillionaires by smuggling opium.—
AFAR Media,
AFAR Media,
3 July 2025
Noun
-
But still, the agave spirit is crucial to this melange of booze.—
Jeremy Repanich,
Robb Report,
11 July 2025
-
Fresh juices, top-shelf booze, and a rotating cocktail menu that'll keep you guessing.—
Ana Gutierrez,
Austin American Statesman,
2 July 2025
Verb
-
The suits and blazers that are offered are made from linen or lightweight wool or cashmere, depending on the season, and are merchandised in a more casual way.—
Jean E. Palmieri,
Footwear News,
8 July 2025
-
Besides education on its website and on social media, that also includes merchandising the massive assortment of plants available for purchase.—
Preston Fore,
Fortune,
2 July 2025
Noun
-
Also, Reuters reports that despite rising levels of alcoholism, which is conducive to a myriad of chronic diseases, revisions to the U.S. dietary guidelines under RFK Jr. may loosen federal guidance on alcohol consumption that currently advises no more than one to two daily drinks.—
Joshua P. Cohen,
Forbes.com,
2 July 2025
-
Yeti’s game-changing double-wall vacuum insulation keeps cold drinks cold and hot drinks hot for hours.—
Katie Jackson,
Travel + Leisure,
1 July 2025
Verb
-
Constructions workers, fencing companies and locksmiths went in and out of the facility ahead of detainees coming in.—
Ana Ceballos,
Miami Herald,
3 July 2025
-
And the area to the south, where stormwater runs through more native plant filters before returning to the drains, will remain fenced off to visitors even after Phase 2 is complete.—
Jeanette Marantos,
Los Angeles Times,
28 June 2025
Noun
-
The family has one outside contact: an on-air acquaintance named Augusta (Elizabeth Saunders), who trades her moonshine for their weed at a nearby depot.—
Amy Nicholson,
Los Angeles Times,
1 July 2025
-
Tours include an entire history of moonshining in Appalachia and Eastern Kentucky, an overview of the distilling process, and four tasting tokens that can be used for beer or moonshine in the brewery and distillery.—
Tara Massouleh McCay,
Southern Living,
20 Sep. 2024
Cite this Entry
“Bootleg.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/bootleg. Accessed 16 Jul. 2025.
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