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.
Related Words
Relevance
Dissimilar 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 smuggle
In it, prosecutors offered him the chance to be deported to Costa Rica in exchange for remaining in jail until his trial and pleading guilty to charges of smuggling undocumented immigrants across the United States.
—
Rebecca Schneid, Time, 27 Aug. 2025
While in prison, Bundy escaped twice, and it is believed that Boone assisted his escapes by smuggling him cash, per Rolling Stone.
—Makena Gera, People.com, 26 Aug. 2025
There are also concerns about the misuse of needed expertise and resources of ATF agents who need to be targeting the cartels who are smuggling firearms, improving forensic tools for criminal investigations.
—Jason Ma, Fortune, 25 Aug. 2025
In recent years, thieves have pulled off elaborate heists of rare, million-dollar collectible cars, sometimes smuggling them out of their country of origin, retrofitting them with fake paperwork, and reselling them on the international market.
—Stayton Bonner, Robb Report, 24 Aug. 2025
See All Example Sentences for smuggle
Rebecca Schneid, Time, 27 Aug. 2025
While in prison, Bundy escaped twice, and it is believed that Boone assisted his escapes by smuggling him cash, per Rolling Stone.
—Makena Gera, People.com, 26 Aug. 2025
There are also concerns about the misuse of needed expertise and resources of ATF agents who need to be targeting the cartels who are smuggling firearms, improving forensic tools for criminal investigations.
—Jason Ma, Fortune, 25 Aug. 2025
In recent years, thieves have pulled off elaborate heists of rare, million-dollar collectible cars, sometimes smuggling them out of their country of origin, retrofitting them with fake paperwork, and reselling them on the international market.
—Stayton Bonner, Robb Report, 24 Aug. 2025
See All Example Sentences for smuggle
Recent Examples of Synonyms for smuggle
Verb
-
In that case, the second seat will be sold at the same fare as the original.—
Zach Wichter,
USA Today,
4 Sep. 2025
-
Burmese shops in Milwaukee sell dozens of kinds of canned or jarred items, including pickled ginger, pickled dogfruit, taro root and lotus root.—
Sophie Carson,
jsonline.com,
4 Sep. 2025
Verb
-
Fill a seed spreader with seed and use it to distribute seed evenly over your grass.—
Karen Brewer Grossman,
Southern Living,
8 Sep. 2025
-
Amid enthusiasm for the decriminalization, Anutin himself announced in that same year his intention to distribute one million low-THC medical cannabis plants to households across the country.—
Dario Sabaghi,
Forbes.com,
8 Sep. 2025
Verb
-
Two tickets sold in California, two tickets bought in Georgia, and single tickets purchased in Colorado, Florida, Illinois, Maryland, Minnesota, Ohio and Pennsylvania all matched five numbers except for the Powerball worth $1 million each.—
Chris Sims,
IndyStar,
7 Sep. 2025
-
Single tickets bought in Kansas and Texas each matched all five numbers except for the Powerball and added the Power Play worth $2 million each.—
Chris Sims,
Louisville Courier Journal,
7 Sep. 2025
Verb
-
The way in which atoms move within a molecule can supply details about the kinds of bonds that connect these atoms.—
IEEE Spectrum,
IEEE Spectrum,
4 Sep. 2025
-
Brooks, who was granted the right to again represent himself in April, has not reached out to the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel about his plans after his former attorney supplied him with a reporter's contact information.—
Jim Riccioli,
jsonline.com,
4 Sep. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Smuggle.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/smuggle. Accessed 9 Sep. 2025.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share