as in alcohols
illegally produced liquor
getting caught with bootleg during Prohibition could have resulted in a jail sentence
Synonyms & Similar Words
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Recent Examples of bootlegs
Rowan Fisher-Shotton, MSNBC Newsweek, 31 Mar. 2026
While bootlegs have been out there for decades, the Petty estate is finally making the concert officially available, with audio restoration done by Ryan Ulyate.
—Chris Willman, Variety, 4 Feb. 2026
Her source material is a pair of cassette tapes recorded by Dueñez in the ’90s, two of a series of bootlegs that the sonidero and his wife sold at the flea market along the Puente del Papa, a bridge connecting Monterrey’s prosperous city center with its mountainside slums.
—Philip Sherburne, Pitchfork, 7 Jan. 2026
But for a few months in 1975, all four members worked in unison to create a masterpiece and perform concerts that became legendary, thanks to bootlegs like the one here.
—Kory Grow, Rolling Stone, 11 Dec. 2025
Mariota looked more comfortable than either Patrick Mahomes or Dak Prescott ever looked against VJ's defense, thanks to either getting the ball out super quick -- screens, bootlegs — or by just taking off with the rock and taking his chances.
—Sean Keeler, Denver Post, 1 Dec. 2025
In the six years since its debut, the show has become an internet sensation, with viewers online embracing the musical's campy humor, jaw-dropping stage illusions and sing-along score, with bootlegs of the production going viral on TikTok and YouTube.
—Dave Quinn, PEOPLE, 5 Nov. 2025
And that means passing up scramble lanes on bootlegs and dirting the ball in the face of free rushers.
—Nate Atkins, New York Times, 1 Oct. 2025
Now, people who don’t have a technical understanding, there might be bootlegs, but that is scratchy stuff with not very good sound.
—Mike Fleming Jr, Deadline, 5 Sep. 2025
Noun
His strengths as a rhythm passer and his ability to operate on bootlegs align cleanly with that system.
—Rowan Fisher-Shotton, MSNBC Newsweek, 31 Mar. 2026
While bootlegs have been out there for decades, the Petty estate is finally making the concert officially available, with audio restoration done by Ryan Ulyate.
—Chris Willman, Variety, 4 Feb. 2026
Her source material is a pair of cassette tapes recorded by Dueñez in the ’90s, two of a series of bootlegs that the sonidero and his wife sold at the flea market along the Puente del Papa, a bridge connecting Monterrey’s prosperous city center with its mountainside slums.
—Philip Sherburne, Pitchfork, 7 Jan. 2026
But for a few months in 1975, all four members worked in unison to create a masterpiece and perform concerts that became legendary, thanks to bootlegs like the one here.
—Kory Grow, Rolling Stone, 11 Dec. 2025
Mariota looked more comfortable than either Patrick Mahomes or Dak Prescott ever looked against VJ's defense, thanks to either getting the ball out super quick -- screens, bootlegs — or by just taking off with the rock and taking his chances.
—Sean Keeler, Denver Post, 1 Dec. 2025
In the six years since its debut, the show has become an internet sensation, with viewers online embracing the musical's campy humor, jaw-dropping stage illusions and sing-along score, with bootlegs of the production going viral on TikTok and YouTube.
—Dave Quinn, PEOPLE, 5 Nov. 2025
And that means passing up scramble lanes on bootlegs and dirting the ball in the face of free rushers.
—Nate Atkins, New York Times, 1 Oct. 2025
Now, people who don’t have a technical understanding, there might be bootlegs, but that is scratchy stuff with not very good sound.
—Mike Fleming Jr, Deadline, 5 Sep. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for bootlegs
Noun
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Diarrhea Limit foods and beverages that contain sugar alcohols, high-fructose corn syrup and lactose, which might make diarrhea worse.—
CBS News,
CBS News,
27 Mar. 2026
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Even if a fragrance features those winning base notes that Morgan outlined, a formulation that relies heavily on synthetics or alcohols may be a red flag for smelling cheap.—
Alexis Berger,
StyleCaster,
16 Mar. 2026
Verb
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Dorian Gray, the Victorian era’s proto-Clavicular, literally exchanges his soul for eternal youth and beauty—a move that the looksmaxxing community would seem to endorse wholeheartedly.—
Thomas Chatterton Williams,
The Atlantic,
19 Jan. 2026
-
The group exchanges little looks.—
Dalton Ross,
Entertainment Weekly,
16 Jan. 2026
Noun
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The festival food court will have offerings including sushi, gyoza, mochi, teriyaki chicken bowls, bento boxes and shave ice, with iced coffee, boba drinks, beer, sake, plum wine, sodas and lemonade to wash it all down.—
Anne Gelhaus,
Mercury News,
29 Mar. 2026
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Even behind the bar, drinks are made using desert plants, with the notable exclusion of citrus fruits.—
John Leos,
AZCentral.com,
29 Mar. 2026
Verb
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One potential—though untested—workaround would be for conferences, which are private entities, to serve as a joint employer that bargains with a players’ union.—
Michael McCann,
Sportico.com,
10 Mar. 2026
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The performers’ union and the Alliance of Motion Pictures and Television Producers, which bargains on behalf of companies like Netflix and Paramount, issued a short joint press release noting that their talks would continue.—
Katie Kilkenny,
HollywoodReporter,
6 Mar. 2026
Verb
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Produced by Mabel Cheung, Good Trip is the story of a young woman who smuggles her terminally ill father out of a hospital to address his unfulfilled wishes.—
Liz Shackleton,
Deadline,
19 Mar. 2026
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Angela, grieving for her family and friends gone in the war, smuggles goods along the front lines to make a living.—
Murtada Elfadl,
Variety,
10 Mar. 2026
Noun
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Instead, there’s just one table with cereals and another for fruit and juices.—
Condé Nast,
Condé Nast Traveler,
31 Mar. 2026
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But the competitive juices he’s known for remain flowing, as his 23XI Racing team sits atop the 2026 NASCAR Cup standings thanks to the four wins Tyler Reddick has already put through in seven starts.—
Scott Thompson,
FOXNews.com,
30 Mar. 2026
Noun
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Then, Patricia Borges, beverage player Diageo’s global managing director of gins and rums and CEO of Ketel One and Zacapa, continued the conversation with Vogue Business Paris correspondent Laure Guilbault.—
Vogue Business,
Vogue,
11 Mar. 2026
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Haber is co-owner of Ocean Cask Spirits, a liquor company that produces rums and tequilas.—
Sarah Moreno,
Miami Herald,
7 Mar. 2026
Verb
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Louisianians know the pleasure of a cushaw, which swaps perfectly with pumpkin.—
Mary Shannon Wells,
Southern Living,
15 Mar. 2026
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Sweet Caroline swaps the typical dinner-and-drinks routine for something way more interactive.—
Lauren Schuster,
Miami Herald,
6 Mar. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Bootlegs.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/bootlegs. Accessed 6 Apr. 2026.
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