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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Recent Examples of smuggle
Officials also alleged Galeano had sought to smuggle her teenage children into the country, paying smugglers to do so.
—
Dan Gooding, MSNBC Newsweek, 5 Nov. 2025
Listening to Jimmy tell stories about Tennessee Williams, Hemingway’s writing, Captain Tony’s, Shel Silverstein, the characters who lived, fished, dreamed and smuggled there, time dissolved and the mythic Key West came to life.
—Alex Ross, PEOPLE, 29 Oct. 2025
American officials say the Chinese government hasn’t done enough to stem the illicit international flow of precursor chemicals for fentanyl, which are then processed into the highly addictive opioid in Mexican labs and smuggled across the border to the United States.
—Janis MacKey Frayer, NBC news, 29 Oct. 2025
This summer, the president has deployed thousands of troops, attack helicopters and warships to the Caribbean to attack fishing boats suspected of smuggling cocaine out of Venezuela.
—Joshua Goodman, Fortune, 28 Oct. 2025
See All Example Sentences for smuggle
Dan Gooding, MSNBC Newsweek, 5 Nov. 2025
Listening to Jimmy tell stories about Tennessee Williams, Hemingway’s writing, Captain Tony’s, Shel Silverstein, the characters who lived, fished, dreamed and smuggled there, time dissolved and the mythic Key West came to life.
—Alex Ross, PEOPLE, 29 Oct. 2025
American officials say the Chinese government hasn’t done enough to stem the illicit international flow of precursor chemicals for fentanyl, which are then processed into the highly addictive opioid in Mexican labs and smuggled across the border to the United States.
—Janis MacKey Frayer, NBC news, 29 Oct. 2025
This summer, the president has deployed thousands of troops, attack helicopters and warships to the Caribbean to attack fishing boats suspected of smuggling cocaine out of Venezuela.
—Joshua Goodman, Fortune, 28 Oct. 2025
See All Example Sentences for smuggle
Recent Examples of Synonyms for smuggle
Verb
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Hong Kong — Qatar Airways will sell its stake in Cathay Pacific Airways for $896 million, ending its eight-year shareholding in Hong Kong’s flagship carrier.—
John Liu,
CNN Money,
6 Nov. 2025
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After its publication in 2019, the book sold two million copies and quickly became a favorite with high school and college kids.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
6 Nov. 2025
Verb
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Over a 10-year period, the dividends would increase deficits by $6 trillion if rebate checks are distributed annually, according to the CRFB's analysis.—
Joey Garrison,
USA Today,
10 Nov. 2025
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Scott David Mason, 61, was accused of distributing photos and videos 50 times using the messaging app Kik between March 28 and May 1.—
Charlotte Observer,
Charlotte Observer,
10 Nov. 2025
Verb
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If this year’s March and June get-togethers were learning exercises — including for the staff after Tuchel began work in January — the next two and the one starting today (Sunday) are all about creating an atmosphere the players and the English public can all buy into.—
Jack Pitt-Brooke,
New York Times,
9 Nov. 2025
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Cureate does not warehouse or distribute food products, the company buys purchases the food order and the farmer delivers it to the customer, Bryden said.—
Cristina LaRue,
Arkansas Online,
9 Nov. 2025
Verb
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The peaches were used to make the salsas produced by both manufacturers and supplied to Kroger locations.—
Mary Walrath-Holdridge,
USA Today,
6 Nov. 2025
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Companies used the standpipe to bring water to the Rio Verde Foothills housing development after Scottsdale stopped supplying that community with water for several months in 2023.—
Austin Corona,
AZCentral.com,
6 Nov. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Smuggle.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/smuggle. Accessed 12 Nov. 2025.
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