1
as in smugglers
a person who imports or exports goods secretly and illegally
a drug runner
Synonyms & Similar Words
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2
as in messengers
one that carries a message or does an errand
sent a runner to tell them that all was ready for the feast
Synonyms & Similar Words
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of runners
The Dodgers eked across a run in the third on a Freddie Freeman groundout with runners on second and third.
—
Maddie Lee, Los Angeles Times, 2 June 2026
Stowers bunted the runners over and Xavier Edwards walked to load the bases.
—Miami Herald, 2 June 2026
Henke stranded seven runners in scoring position across six innings of a gutsy start, and Josh Silber (2-for-3) kickstarted the five-run sixth with a leadoff double after the Warriors (12-11) plated two to erase a 3-1 deficit.
—Tom Mulherin, Boston Herald, 2 June 2026
The new capital will be used by GammaTime to continue developing a premium originals slate with the help of Versant’s show runners and entertainment IP.
—Etan Vlessing, HollywoodReporter, 2 June 2026
The game ended when Siri grounded into a double play with runners on first and second in the ninth.
—Doug Padilla, Oc Register, 2 June 2026
The Reds recorded four hits and finished 0-for-6 with runners in scoring position.
—Jaylon Thompson, Kansas City Star, 2 June 2026
On June 5, runners plan to cover 116 miles, some along La Jolla Boulevard and Torrey Pines Road.
—Noah Lyons, San Diego Union-Tribune, 2 June 2026
Ryan worked around a pair of runners in both the fourth and seventh innings, skipping off the mound after getting Drew Romo to swing at a sweeper for strike three to get out of the seventh unscathed.
—Betsy Helfand, Twin Cities, 27 May 2026
Maddie Lee, Los Angeles Times, 2 June 2026
Stowers bunted the runners over and Xavier Edwards walked to load the bases.
—Miami Herald, 2 June 2026
Henke stranded seven runners in scoring position across six innings of a gutsy start, and Josh Silber (2-for-3) kickstarted the five-run sixth with a leadoff double after the Warriors (12-11) plated two to erase a 3-1 deficit.
—Tom Mulherin, Boston Herald, 2 June 2026
The new capital will be used by GammaTime to continue developing a premium originals slate with the help of Versant’s show runners and entertainment IP.
—Etan Vlessing, HollywoodReporter, 2 June 2026
The game ended when Siri grounded into a double play with runners on first and second in the ninth.
—Doug Padilla, Oc Register, 2 June 2026
The Reds recorded four hits and finished 0-for-6 with runners in scoring position.
—Jaylon Thompson, Kansas City Star, 2 June 2026
On June 5, runners plan to cover 116 miles, some along La Jolla Boulevard and Torrey Pines Road.
—Noah Lyons, San Diego Union-Tribune, 2 June 2026
Ryan worked around a pair of runners in both the fourth and seventh innings, skipping off the mound after getting Drew Romo to swing at a sweeper for strike three to get out of the seventh unscathed.
—Betsy Helfand, Twin Cities, 27 May 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for runners
Noun
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As Danny and Lena squared off against thieves, smugglers, and serial killers, Boston Blue also explored the tangled branches of the Silver family tree.—
Randall Colburn,
Entertainment Weekly,
23 May 2026
-
The reductions, which reduced the number of entomologists, have emboldened ant smugglers, Wired reported.—
Janet Loehrke,
USA Today,
15 May 2026
Noun
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This happens because mast cells build up in your bone marrow and release chemical messengers that increase bone breakdown.—
Brittany Dube,
Health,
21 May 2026
-
But other cosmic messengers exist.—
Phil Plait,
Scientific American,
15 May 2026
Noun
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Top figures could avoid vulnerable communications, rely on couriers or hardwired systems, and disperse authority before an operation begins.—
Antonio María Delgado,
Miami Herald,
28 May 2026
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Instead, messages are passed through a network of couriers created to obscure the supreme leader's location.—
Jennifer Jacobs,
CBS News,
24 May 2026
Cite this Entry
“Runners.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/runners. Accessed 7 Jun. 2026.
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