SMUGGLE Synonyms: 41 Similar and Opposite Words

smuggle

verb

Definition of smuggle

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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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 the film, which was based on a Pulitzer Prize nominated memoir, Betty escapes the clutches of her barbaric Iranian husband (played by Alfred Molina) and courageously smuggles herself and her daughter out of Iran. — Literary Hub, 29 June 2026 Several recent cases linked to smuggling Nvidia’s AI chips into China to circumvent export controls show the appetite for its technology. — ABC News, 29 June 2026 Amid anecdotal reports that airport security services have been confiscating bottles of ranch dressing that sports tourists have tried to smuggle out of the country, Kraft Heinz came up with a TSA-friendly size of ranch dressing. — Cynthia Littleton, Variety, 25 June 2026 The warden’s high-stakes deal is for Murphy to smuggle gold out of a remote mine. — Erik Pedersen, Deadline, 25 June 2026 See All Example Sentences for smuggle

Recent Examples of Synonyms for smuggle

Verb

And shorting — borrowing a stock to sell it high in the hopes of repurchasing it at a cheaper price later and pocketing the proceeds — is having a bit of a renaissance.

— Allison Morrow, CNN Money, 23 July 2026
As of Wednesday, the winning Mega Millions ticket sold in Idaho had yet to be claimed.

— Hali Smith, Idaho Statesman, 23 July 2026

Definition of sell

Verb

Siena College of Health was shut down in 2023 following an FBI investigation that found the nursing school was implicated in a scheme distributing more than 7,600 fake nursing diplomas.

— Ella Moore July 23, Miami Herald, 23 July 2026
Under the regulation, app developers who distribute their product via Google Play should be able to inform customers of alternative, sometimes cheaper offers.

— Arjun Kharpal, CNBC, 23 July 2026

Definition of distribute

Verb

The aggregate spending increase being committed across these geographies represents a multi-year demand cycle for defense contractors, aerospace suppliers, cybersecurity providers, and the electronics companies that supply military applications.

— Jason Kirsch, Forbes.com, 23 July 2026
American companies will have priority access to supply nuclear reactors and fuel to the Saudi nuclear energy program, according to an administration memo about the agreement seen by NPR.

— Brittney Melton, NPR, 23 July 2026

Definition of supply

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smug

smuggle

smuggled

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“Smuggle.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/smuggle. Accessed 24 Jul. 2026.

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Synonyms of smuggle

verb

Example Sentences

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