as in prohibited
not legally permissible to possess, import, or export
The customs agents searched the shipping containers for contraband items.
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Recent Examples of contraband
With each update posted on social media, including a viral April 22 TikTok, Bina's network of contraband pamphlet suppliers continues to grow.
—
Colson Thayer,
PEOPLE,
28 May 2026
And in May 2020, with the help of sniffer dogs, Russian customs seized 70 tons of contraband European cheeses that were being smuggled into the country.
—
Olivia Potts,
Longreads,
28 May 2026
Cofield stole those millions of dollars with the help of contraband cellphones, which were continually found in his prison cells over the years, including one hidden in the rolls of his stomach.
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Charles Bethea,
New Yorker,
27 May 2026
Bikini bottoms would be full coverage only; thongs were added to a list of contraband items that included alcohol and nonprescription drugs, which were confiscated from Islanders’ suitcases on arrival.
—
Anna Peele,
Vulture,
20 May 2026
See All Example Sentences for contraband
Colson Thayer,
PEOPLE,
28 May 2026
And in May 2020, with the help of sniffer dogs, Russian customs seized 70 tons of contraband European cheeses that were being smuggled into the country.
—
Olivia Potts,
Longreads,
28 May 2026
Cofield stole those millions of dollars with the help of contraband cellphones, which were continually found in his prison cells over the years, including one hidden in the rolls of his stomach.
—
Charles Bethea,
New Yorker,
27 May 2026
Bikini bottoms would be full coverage only; thongs were added to a list of contraband items that included alcohol and nonprescription drugs, which were confiscated from Islanders’ suitcases on arrival.
—
Anna Peele,
Vulture,
20 May 2026
See All Example Sentences for contraband
Recent Examples of Synonyms for contraband
Adjective
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There is, however, room for questions about where the line between prohibited and acceptable political involvement will fall in practice.
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The list of prohibited and restricted items, as found on the CBP website, includes alcohol, biological materials, firearms, food and produce such as fruits and vegetables, soil, wildlife, fish, and gold, among other items.
Adjective
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From the Dallas Stadium, an unauthorized aircraft cannot come within three nautical miles or fly 3,000 feet ground-to-air.
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But these centers often have little to no medical staff, which means ultrasound offerings could violate laws against the unauthorized practice of medicine or false advertising.
Adjective
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The smuggled animals, which were imported from both Hong Kong and Mexico without permits, included Mexican beaded lizards, Mexican box turtles and Yucatan box turtles and baby crocodiles, prosecutors said.
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Lang calls Atterton, who’s in his prison cell with a smuggled phone, to tell him the job is done and that both Bailey-Brown and Sam have been terminated.
Adjective
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More recently, mathematicians have been able to adapt Erdős’ method to get better estimates of Ramsey numbers where the forbidden cliques differ vastly in size.
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And thank God for that, because forbidden love is my favorite type of drama to watch on Love Island.
Adjective
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So far this year, 17 tons of illicit drugs, mostly cocaine, have been seized in the Pacific region – more than three times the total across the whole of last year, according to the Australian Federal Police.
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Australian Federal Police via AP Six others allegedly involved in the importation of the cocaine had previously been arrested and charged with offenses related to illicit drugs possession, police said.
Cite this Entry
“Contraband.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/contraband. Accessed 28 Jun. 2026.
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