as in runner
a person who imports or exports goods secretly and illegally
during Prohibition, smugglers of alcohol did a brisk business
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Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of smuggler
The characterization that those killed in the attacks are drug-smugglers has been disputed at times by families of the dead.
—
Dennis Romero, NBC news, 14 Apr. 2026
Cook County Jail in Chicago, which houses nearly 5,000 detainees, has reported increasing cases of smugglers soaking paper with synthetic drugs and sending them into the jail through mail or visitors.
—Melissa Rudy, FOXNews.com, 7 Apr. 2026
Based on the Substack post, the analyst's interviews with fishermen, smugglers and regional officials point to a system in which Iran is selectively allowing ships to pass.
—Yun Li, CNBC, 6 Apr. 2026
Hole, Oleg and Martin Aminov (Simon J Berger), a petty gun smuggler mistakenly accused of being the serial killer, wind up in a stationary elevator stuck between two floors with an armed Waaler reaching in to grab Oleg’s hair.
—K.j. Yossman, Variety, 27 Mar. 2026
See All Example Sentences for smuggler
Dennis Romero, NBC news, 14 Apr. 2026
Cook County Jail in Chicago, which houses nearly 5,000 detainees, has reported increasing cases of smugglers soaking paper with synthetic drugs and sending them into the jail through mail or visitors.
—Melissa Rudy, FOXNews.com, 7 Apr. 2026
Based on the Substack post, the analyst's interviews with fishermen, smugglers and regional officials point to a system in which Iran is selectively allowing ships to pass.
—Yun Li, CNBC, 6 Apr. 2026
Hole, Oleg and Martin Aminov (Simon J Berger), a petty gun smuggler mistakenly accused of being the serial killer, wind up in a stationary elevator stuck between two floors with an armed Waaler reaching in to grab Oleg’s hair.
—K.j. Yossman, Variety, 27 Mar. 2026
See All Example Sentences for smuggler
Recent Examples of Synonyms for smuggler
Noun
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Nicole, a senior infielder, came up in the 12th inning with a runner on third and two outs.—
Tony Baranek,
Chicago Tribune,
5 May 2026
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Ramirez and Liam Hicks have combined to cut down only three runners on the season while allowing a combined 42 steals.—
Andy Behrens,
New York Times,
4 May 2026
Noun
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Abu Ahmed al-Kuwaiti, Osama bin Laden’s courier, opens fire from behind a door of the guesthouse.—
Kurt Snibbe,
Oc Register,
1 May 2026
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The movie stars Austin Abrams, who also starred in Weapons, as a courier who unexpectedly finds himself in the midst of what appears to be the outbreak of a zombie apocalypse.—
Tommy McArdle,
PEOPLE,
30 Apr. 2026
Noun
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Even the underground tunnels bootleggers used to service the Green Mill during its speakeasy days are still in place.—
Meena Thiruvengadam,
Travel + Leisure,
8 Apr. 2026
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His father was a factory worker and a barber, as well as a bootlegger and loan shark.—
Gary Baum,
HollywoodReporter,
2 Apr. 2026
Noun
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Perhaps the most charming drink is the mezcal mule, served in a small white metal mug like the ones grandmothers use for coffee.—
Sarah Moreno,
Miami Herald,
27 Apr. 2026
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In the first onscreen interaction between them, Rue, now working as a drug mule for a dealer named Laurie (Martha Kelly), wends her way through a labyrinthine house party before meeting Alamo, sitting in a hot tub, flanked by four strippers, and wearing a Speedo and a cowboy hat.—
Molly Lambert,
Vulture,
20 Apr. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Smuggler.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/smuggler. Accessed 6 May. 2026.
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