as in sells
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 smuggles
Hickinbottom smuggles the little kitten aboard his ship, the HMS Amethyst, and the crew obviously immediately falls in love with him and names the little tuxedo cat Simon.
—
Popular Science Team, Popular Science, 27 Feb. 2026
Not everyone smuggles them into print in the form of an imaginary friend.
—Ian Parker, New Yorker, 22 Dec. 2025
According to Reforma, Rocha, a Mexican businessman who also serves as a consul of Guatemala in Mexico, is considered by FRG to be an alleged leader of a criminal organization that smuggles fuel in boats through the Usumacinta River and then in trucks to Querétaro, Mexico.
—Luke Chinman, PEOPLE, 26 Nov. 2025
Popular Science Team, Popular Science, 27 Feb. 2026
Not everyone smuggles them into print in the form of an imaginary friend.
—Ian Parker, New Yorker, 22 Dec. 2025
According to Reforma, Rocha, a Mexican businessman who also serves as a consul of Guatemala in Mexico, is considered by FRG to be an alleged leader of a criminal organization that smuggles fuel in boats through the Usumacinta River and then in trucks to Querétaro, Mexico.
—Luke Chinman, PEOPLE, 26 Nov. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for smuggles
Verb
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Unrivaled — a 3-on-3, full-court game played on a 72-foot floor, shorter than an NBA or college court — sells itself on being fast-paced, with an 18-second shot clock, 7-minute quarters and plenty of open space for players to create.—
Tim Reynolds,
Los Angeles Times,
5 Mar. 2026
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If New Jersey, which looks out of the race, sells elsewhere, depth forward Cody Glass may have boosted his value by scoring his 14th goal of the season.—
CBS News,
CBS News,
4 Mar. 2026
Verb
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Royal Cup manufactures and distributes coffee and tea, and got an investment from Braemont Capital at the end of last year.—
Brian Womack,
Dallas Morning News,
4 Mar. 2026
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Another $4 million will go toward a program that distributes air purifiers capable of filtering hydrogen sulfide and other pollutants from the toxic cross-border flows.—
Lucas Robinson,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
4 Mar. 2026
Verb
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China buys large amounts of oil from Iran and elsewhere in the Middle East – which have been affected by the Iranian blockade of the Strait of Hormuz.—
Jennifer Pak,
NPR,
8 Mar. 2026
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Formed in 1985, The Conservation Fund is a national nonprofit environmental organization that buys at-risk land with high conservation values for the purpose of turning it over to long-term ownership dedicated to environmental preservation.—
John Meyer,
Denver Post,
6 Mar. 2026
Verb
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Fish emulsion supplies essential nutrients and supports soil microbial health, while liquid seaweed adds trace elements and growth hormones that enhance plant resilience and reduce drought stress.—
Rita Perwich,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
7 Mar. 2026
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The Biden administration declassified intelligence findings that showed Iran supplies Moscow with attack drones and has assisted the Kremlin with building a drone-manufacturing factory.—
Seung Min Kim,
Los Angeles Times,
6 Mar. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Smuggles.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/smuggles. Accessed 9 Mar. 2026.
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