as in contraband
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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 smuggled
Tresa Baldas, Freep.com, 13 Nov. 2025
Laboratory tests of smuggled samples taken from late Russian opposition leader Alexey Navalny show that he was poisoned when he was imprisoned in a Siberian penal colony, his widow Yulia Navalnaya has said.
—Anna Chernova, CNN Money, 17 Sep. 2025
Inevitably, a few students were surreptitiously checking smuggled screens that day.
—Christopher Bonanos, Curbed, 5 Sep. 2025
ABC News, 19 Feb. 2026
Deadlock, then a daring escape While the dead and wounded were smuggled to shore and safety, the remaining sailors on board were stuck in sweltering heat, under threat from barrages from the shore, and with dwindling supplies.
—Anne Ewbank, Popular Science, 18 Feb. 2026
Three of the guns used in the rampage were smuggled illegally from Maine.
—Max Saltman, CNN Money, 15 Feb. 2026
Iran’s comments were first reported by Bloomberg, which said that around 50,000 terminals for Starlink were smuggled into Iran in recent years, allowing protesters to subvert internet outages backed by the government.
—Ashleigh Fields, The Hill, 10 Feb. 2026
Moscow — Russian investigators have prevented a giant meteorite fragment being smuggled to Britain disguised as a garden ornament, the Federal Customs Service reported Thursday.
—CBS News, 5 Feb. 2026
Maharaj personally transcribed some of Mandela’s memoir and smuggled it out of prison with him in 1967.
—Matt Donnelly, Variety, 29 Jan. 2026
Los Angeles, San Bernardino and Riverside counties served as distribution hubs for cocaine smuggled by Wedding’s organization, federal authorities charge.
—Richard Winton, Los Angeles Times, 23 Jan. 2026
The Alabama Solution In The Alabama Solution, shot largely on cell phones smuggled into a prison by its inmates, The Jinx filmmaker Andrew Jarecki and co-director Charlotte Kauffman investigate systemic issues at Easterling Correctional Facility.
—Savannah Walsh, Vanity Fair, 22 Jan. 2026
Adjective
The smuggled fungus, Fusarium graminearum, can cause billions in crop losses and is harmful to humans and livestock.
—Tresa Baldas, Freep.com, 13 Nov. 2025
Laboratory tests of smuggled samples taken from late Russian opposition leader Alexey Navalny show that he was poisoned when he was imprisoned in a Siberian penal colony, his widow Yulia Navalnaya has said.
—Anna Chernova, CNN Money, 17 Sep. 2025
Inevitably, a few students were surreptitiously checking smuggled screens that day.
—Christopher Bonanos, Curbed, 5 Sep. 2025
Verb
Pope Francis had made Lampedusa his first trip outside Rome after his 2013 election to show solidarity with migrants who landed there after being smuggled from north Africa.
—ABC News, 19 Feb. 2026
Deadlock, then a daring escape While the dead and wounded were smuggled to shore and safety, the remaining sailors on board were stuck in sweltering heat, under threat from barrages from the shore, and with dwindling supplies.
—Anne Ewbank, Popular Science, 18 Feb. 2026
Three of the guns used in the rampage were smuggled illegally from Maine.
—Max Saltman, CNN Money, 15 Feb. 2026
Iran’s comments were first reported by Bloomberg, which said that around 50,000 terminals for Starlink were smuggled into Iran in recent years, allowing protesters to subvert internet outages backed by the government.
—Ashleigh Fields, The Hill, 10 Feb. 2026
Moscow — Russian investigators have prevented a giant meteorite fragment being smuggled to Britain disguised as a garden ornament, the Federal Customs Service reported Thursday.
—CBS News, 5 Feb. 2026
Maharaj personally transcribed some of Mandela’s memoir and smuggled it out of prison with him in 1967.
—Matt Donnelly, Variety, 29 Jan. 2026
Los Angeles, San Bernardino and Riverside counties served as distribution hubs for cocaine smuggled by Wedding’s organization, federal authorities charge.
—Richard Winton, Los Angeles Times, 23 Jan. 2026
The Alabama Solution In The Alabama Solution, shot largely on cell phones smuggled into a prison by its inmates, The Jinx filmmaker Andrew Jarecki and co-director Charlotte Kauffman investigate systemic issues at Easterling Correctional Facility.
—Savannah Walsh, Vanity Fair, 22 Jan. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for smuggled
Adjective
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The same can be said for using a Pornhub-type site to pass contraband date along.—
David Fear,
Rolling Stone,
13 Feb. 2026
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The same deficiencies cited in contraband cases in the mid-2010s continue to appear in inspections a decade later.—
Walter Pavlo,
Forbes.com,
27 Jan. 2026
Verb
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With house‑inspired production and a darker, more experimental sound, the mini-album — which sold more than half a million copies in four days — hinted at the group’s creative ambition.—
Rebecca Cairns,
CNN Money,
19 Feb. 2026
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In that range, the sale has the potential to become one of the biggest in NFL history, after the Washington Commanders sold for roughly $6 billion in 2023.—
Laya Neelakandan,
CNBC,
18 Feb. 2026
Adjective
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The uncredited vocals drew similarities to British singer Jorja Smith, prompting speculation that the recording was an unauthorized deepfake.—
Xander Zellner,
Billboard,
17 Feb. 2026
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These include unauthorized crossovers, such as inserting real-world figures like Elon Musk into the Squid Game environment.—
Dominic Patten,
Deadline,
17 Feb. 2026
Verb
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This story was originally published by the Texas Tribune and distributed through a partnership with the Associated Press.—
Emily Foxhall,
Los Angeles Times,
25 Feb. 2026
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Part of the answer should involve consideration of how goods can be distributed safely to families afraid of being exposed.—
Jeanne Sahadi,
CNN Money,
24 Feb. 2026
Adjective
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Unauthorized/unlicensed vendors.—
Dina Kaur,
AZCentral.com,
20 Feb. 2026
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For the second time in less than a dozen years, the Georgia Supreme Court overturned the conviction of a former babysitter accused of killing an infant at her unlicensed day care.—
Shaddi Abusaid,
AJC.com,
18 Feb. 2026
Verb
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San Antonio outpaced Austin by roughly 3,000 new home starts in the second quarter, perhaps contributing to what Zonda data show is a market now appropriately supplied with build-ready lots.—
Travis Webb,
Austin American Statesman,
24 Feb. 2026
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Other aid supplied by White Stork include de-mining equipment, kevlar blankets, trench shovels, flame resistant flight suits and body armor.—
Michael Schneider,
Variety,
24 Feb. 2026
Adjective
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An employee drink in an unapproved container was found in the food preparation area.—
Veronica Fernandez-Alvarado
February 20,
Sacbee.com,
20 Feb. 2026
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Lewis’ attorney Ron Kuby alleged his client was linked to the killing after the NYPD used an unapproved lab to do racial phenotyping testing on evidence recovered from Vetrano’s body.—
Rocco Parascandola,
New York Daily News,
20 Feb. 2026
Adjective
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In 2015, regulators found unsanctioned blackjack tables in the back of a charity bingo hall that the nonprofit operated, the Chronicle reported.—
ABC News,
ABC News,
24 Feb. 2026
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That’s even with an unsanctioned appearance on Tucker Carlson last year, which reportedly landed Bankman-Fried in solitary confinement.—
Leo Schwartz,
Fortune,
24 Feb. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Smuggled.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/smuggled. Accessed 25 Feb. 2026.
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