as in to sell
to move (people or goods) from one country to another secretly and illegally
They were arrested for smuggling drugs across the border.
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Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of smuggle
On June 1, using hundreds of short-range one-way attack drones smuggled deep into Russian territory, Ukraine was able to significantly damage or destroy at least 11 Russian strategic bombers as part of its Operation Spider’s Web.
—
Michael C. Horowitz, Foreign Affairs, 4 July 2025
Meanwhile, the Astors, who had amassed a nearly obscene amount of real estate in New York City, became the country’s first multimillionaires by smuggling opium.
—AFAR Media, 3 July 2025
In 1951, George Rau Jr., the stepson of Fred Lazarus Jr. (who founded the retail chain Lazarus, which would later become Macy's), smuggled 10 Italian lizards home from a family trip in Lake Garda, Italy.
—Kaycee Sloan, The Enquirer, 2 July 2025
In March, a Pennsylvania man was caught trying to smuggle a red-ear slider turtle through security at Newark Liberty International Airport in New Jersey by stuffing it down his pants.
—Charlotte Phillipp, People.com, 30 June 2025
See All Example Sentences for smuggle
Michael C. Horowitz, Foreign Affairs, 4 July 2025
Meanwhile, the Astors, who had amassed a nearly obscene amount of real estate in New York City, became the country’s first multimillionaires by smuggling opium.
—AFAR Media, 3 July 2025
In 1951, George Rau Jr., the stepson of Fred Lazarus Jr. (who founded the retail chain Lazarus, which would later become Macy's), smuggled 10 Italian lizards home from a family trip in Lake Garda, Italy.
—Kaycee Sloan, The Enquirer, 2 July 2025
In March, a Pennsylvania man was caught trying to smuggle a red-ear slider turtle through security at Newark Liberty International Airport in New Jersey by stuffing it down his pants.
—Charlotte Phillipp, People.com, 30 June 2025
See All Example Sentences for smuggle
Recent Examples of Synonyms for smuggle
Verb
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Unlike many of his peers, Leadon hasn’t sold his publishing.—
Andy Greene,
Rolling Stone,
10 July 2025
-
The company, founded in 1946, sells products in more than 170 countries.—
Preston Fore,
Fortune,
10 July 2025
Verb
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They were distributed at World Market locations in over 30 states.—
Bailey Richards,
People.com,
20 July 2025
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From the mobile studio, the live broadcast is distributed simultaneously via satellite links and online streams to TV networks all over the globe.—
Tim Genske,
Forbes.com,
20 July 2025
Verb
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The system worked, and Border Protection soon bought more.—
Dexter Filkins,
New Yorker,
14 July 2025
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The winner, who chose to stay anonymous, bought the ticket at a QuickTrip gas station, at 2051 FM 663 in Midlothian, the release states.—
Samara Gerstle,
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
14 July 2025
Verb
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While ratings have dipped over the past few years, in line with the vast majority of other shows, MasterChef still averages a consolidated 28-day audience of more than 3M viewers, according to Barb data supplied by overnights.tv.—
Max Goldbart,
Deadline,
18 July 2025
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On the production side, Rae made sure to assemble the right crew to supply heat behind the boards with beats from Swizz Beatz, J.U.S.T.I.C.E. League and Nottz throughout the 17-track album.—
Michael Saponara,
Billboard,
18 July 2025
Cite this Entry
“Smuggle.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/smuggle. Accessed 23 Jul. 2025.
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