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
With help from catcher Rodolfo Durán throwing out two runners trying to steal second base, King faced the minimum number of batters through 5⅔ innings.
—
Kevin Acee, San Diego Union-Tribune, 19 May 2026
The Nationals made four errors and left 19 runners on base, but kept it close until falling apart in the 12th.
—CBS News, 19 May 2026
That brought Kurtz to the plate with two runners on.
—Jeff Fletcher, Oc Register, 19 May 2026
The Chick-fil-A Peachtree Junior race for young runners will be on Friday, July 3.
—Staff, AJC.com, 19 May 2026
Pasquantino has stepped to the plate 60 times with runners in scoring position — tied for the most in the American League.
—Sam McDowell May 19, Kansas City Star, 19 May 2026
The Rays had a 5-2 lead on Miami, which had runners on first and second with one out and the tying run at the plate in the person of Leo Jimenez.
—Tom Layberger, Forbes.com, 18 May 2026
The Yankees, who have scored eight runs over their losing streak, were otherwise quiet against Brandon Young and Baltimore’s bullpen, going 0-for-6 with runners in scoring position and stranding five runners.
—Gary Phillips, New York Daily News, 12 May 2026
On top of that, wild strawberries spread via runners, which help to stabilize soil and can be separated into indivdual plants to provide you with more groundcovering plants for free.
—Lauren Landers, The Spruce, 12 May 2026
Kevin Acee, San Diego Union-Tribune, 19 May 2026
The Nationals made four errors and left 19 runners on base, but kept it close until falling apart in the 12th.
—CBS News, 19 May 2026
That brought Kurtz to the plate with two runners on.
—Jeff Fletcher, Oc Register, 19 May 2026
The Chick-fil-A Peachtree Junior race for young runners will be on Friday, July 3.
—Staff, AJC.com, 19 May 2026
Pasquantino has stepped to the plate 60 times with runners in scoring position — tied for the most in the American League.
—Sam McDowell May 19, Kansas City Star, 19 May 2026
The Rays had a 5-2 lead on Miami, which had runners on first and second with one out and the tying run at the plate in the person of Leo Jimenez.
—Tom Layberger, Forbes.com, 18 May 2026
The Yankees, who have scored eight runs over their losing streak, were otherwise quiet against Brandon Young and Baltimore’s bullpen, going 0-for-6 with runners in scoring position and stranding five runners.
—Gary Phillips, New York Daily News, 12 May 2026
On top of that, wild strawberries spread via runners, which help to stabilize soil and can be separated into indivdual plants to provide you with more groundcovering plants for free.
—Lauren Landers, The Spruce, 12 May 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for runners
Noun
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The reductions, which reduced the number of entomologists, have emboldened ant smugglers, Wired reported.—
Janet Loehrke,
USA Today,
15 May 2026
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That case charged a handful of Florida defendants with stealing more than 600 outboard boat engines and vessels from the Tampa area and shipping them to the migrant smugglers in the Quintana Roo area.—
Jay Weaver
May 14,
Miami Herald,
14 May 2026
Noun
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But other cosmic messengers exist.—
Phil Plait,
Scientific American,
15 May 2026
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While SSRIs affect only the neurotransmitter serotonin, tricyclic antidepressants such as amitriptyline and nortriptyline impact both serotonin and norepinephrine and other chemical messengers.—
Kristen Rogers,
CNN Money,
14 May 2026
Noun
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Jewelry couriers carrying armored cases disappear into the famously tiny elevators.—
Melinda Sheckells,
HollywoodReporter,
16 May 2026
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Staffers in the front office smoked, gabbed on the phone, and chatted with the illustrators and couriers stopping by the third-floor walk-up to drop off portfolios.—
Anne Kadet,
Curbed,
15 May 2026
Cite this Entry
“Runners.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/runners. Accessed 24 May. 2026.
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