1
as in smugglers
a person who imports or exports goods secretly and illegally
a drug runner
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
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
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
Read More
Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors.
Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of runners
The winner and four runners up will be announced on March 25.
—
Charlotte Reck, CNN Money, 4 Feb. 2026
Both his parents and all those agent runners in London are gone.
—Max Gao, HollywoodReporter, 3 Feb. 2026
For runners, the challenge is choosing among the scores of good socks.
—Scott Douglas, Outside, 3 Feb. 2026
Nothing quite compares to the enthusiasm from runners and spectators at the finish line on Boylston Street, every third Monday in April.
—Lance Reynolds, Boston Herald, 1 Feb. 2026
That ability to hit in big moments is significant for the Giants, which finished 17th in on-base percentage and 19th in batting average with runners in scoring position last season.
—Justice Delos Santos, Mercury News, 1 Feb. 2026
Instead, Kuntz started working behind the scenes to make sure all the runners had a memorable experience.
—Laylan Connelly, Oc Register, 30 Jan. 2026
The wind howls, and the sound of the runners grinding over the ice is surprisingly loud.
—Nathan Pilling, Kansas City Star, 26 Jan. 2026
Leonard and King are comparable runners.
—Seth Emerson, The Athletic, 24 Dec. 2024
Charlotte Reck, CNN Money, 4 Feb. 2026
Both his parents and all those agent runners in London are gone.
—Max Gao, HollywoodReporter, 3 Feb. 2026
For runners, the challenge is choosing among the scores of good socks.
—Scott Douglas, Outside, 3 Feb. 2026
Nothing quite compares to the enthusiasm from runners and spectators at the finish line on Boylston Street, every third Monday in April.
—Lance Reynolds, Boston Herald, 1 Feb. 2026
That ability to hit in big moments is significant for the Giants, which finished 17th in on-base percentage and 19th in batting average with runners in scoring position last season.
—Justice Delos Santos, Mercury News, 1 Feb. 2026
Instead, Kuntz started working behind the scenes to make sure all the runners had a memorable experience.
—Laylan Connelly, Oc Register, 30 Jan. 2026
The wind howls, and the sound of the runners grinding over the ice is surprisingly loud.
—Nathan Pilling, Kansas City Star, 26 Jan. 2026
Leonard and King are comparable runners.
—Seth Emerson, The Athletic, 24 Dec. 2024
Recent Examples of Synonyms for runners
Noun
-
Past disputes have included Australian intelligence wiretapping accusations involving Indonesia's former president, the execution of Australian drug smugglers and tensions over people smuggling.—
NINIEK KARMINI,
Arkansas Online,
8 Feb. 2026
-
These days, most kidnappings are typically connected to domestic or family issues, human smugglers or mental illness.—
Chris Kenning,
USA Today,
8 Feb. 2026
Noun
-
This essential mineral helps produce neurotransmitters, which are chemical messengers in your brain and nervous system.—
Zia Sherrell,
Health,
5 Feb. 2026
-
Dehydration also interferes with how your brain uses dopamine and serotonin—the chemical messengers that help regulate mood, focus, and motivation.—
Kathleen Ferraro,
Verywell Health,
4 Feb. 2026
Noun
-
How the scheme works Investigators describe the operation as a multilayered network involving overseas call centers that initiate the fraud, local couriers who collect the gold, and jewelry stores that melt it down and resell it.—
J.D. Miles,
CBS News,
3 Feb. 2026
-
John McCarthy, the Maryland state attorney for Montgomery County, announced Monday that his office had indicted 10 couriers accused of collecting money from victims, and said that several of those cases have already resulted in convictions.—
Laura Romero,
ABC News,
2 Feb. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Runners.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/runners. Accessed 11 Feb. 2026.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
