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
Since 2020, the Milwaukee County Jail has recorded 175 contraband incidents and administered Narcan 50 times, according to a report from the county's judiciary, law enforcement and general services committee.
—
Vanessa Swales, jsonline.com, 16 Sep. 2025
At a talk at the Arkansas Attorney General’s office in Little Rock, FCC Chairman Brendan Carr said that reclassifying contraband cellphones as unauthorized could sidestep the rule.
—Will McCurdy, PC Magazine, 6 Sep. 2025
Commissioners also said Erik Menendez's use of contraband cellphones was a factor in the denial.
—Jeanine Santucci, USA Today, 24 Aug. 2025
The moderate risk increase came after each report found that Erik and Lyle, in recent months, had been cited for breaking prison rules for contraband violations, specifically the possession of cell phones.
—Stepheny Price , Sarah Rumpf-Whitten, FOXNews.com, 23 Aug. 2025
See All Example Sentences for contraband
Vanessa Swales, jsonline.com, 16 Sep. 2025
At a talk at the Arkansas Attorney General’s office in Little Rock, FCC Chairman Brendan Carr said that reclassifying contraband cellphones as unauthorized could sidestep the rule.
—Will McCurdy, PC Magazine, 6 Sep. 2025
Commissioners also said Erik Menendez's use of contraband cellphones was a factor in the denial.
—Jeanine Santucci, USA Today, 24 Aug. 2025
The moderate risk increase came after each report found that Erik and Lyle, in recent months, had been cited for breaking prison rules for contraband violations, specifically the possession of cell phones.
—Stepheny Price , Sarah Rumpf-Whitten, FOXNews.com, 23 Aug. 2025
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.—
BrieAnna J. Frank,
USA Today,
11 July 2025
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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.—
Dan Perry,
Newsweek,
28 Feb. 2025
Adjective
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In addition, reported unauthorized border crossing attempts have plummeted.—
Phillip Reese,
Miami Herald,
3 Oct. 2025
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Munich airport was shut down this morning due to unauthorized drones in its airspace, and Putin joked about it in Sochi.—
Geoff Colvin,
Fortune,
3 Oct. 2025
Adjective
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Laboratory tests of smuggled samples taken from late Russian opposition leader Alexey Navalny show that he was poisoned when he was imprisoned in a Siberian penal colony, his widow Yulia Navalnaya has said.—
Anna Chernova,
CNN Money,
17 Sep. 2025
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Inevitably, a few students were surreptitiously checking smuggled screens that day.—
Christopher Bonanos,
Curbed,
5 Sep. 2025
Adjective
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Lina, a young woman facing harsh coming-of-age rituals, forms a forbidden connection with a man.—
Anna Marie de la Fuente,
Variety,
3 Oct. 2025
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With every temptation, Jesus is lured into a forbidden world, and a terrified Joseph soon realizes that a demonic power is at work.—
Mekishana Pierre,
Entertainment Weekly,
1 Oct. 2025
Adjective
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Their function, Milic said, was to illicit wonder and curiosity.—
Richard Ruelas,
AZCentral.com,
4 Oct. 2025
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Using records from Japan's Foreign Ministry, a map shows that, in addition to Canada, Australia, France, Italy, New Zealand and the United Kingdom have also deployed warships and aircraft to counter illicit North Korean activities at sea this year.—
Ryan Chan,
MSNBC Newsweek,
1 Oct. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Contraband.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/contraband. Accessed 6 Oct. 2025.
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