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.
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 smuggles
Produced by Mabel Cheung, Good Trip is the story of a young woman who smuggles her terminally ill father out of a hospital to address his unfulfilled wishes.
—
Liz Shackleton, Deadline, 19 Mar. 2026
Angela, grieving for her family and friends gone in the war, smuggles goods along the front lines to make a living.
—Murtada Elfadl, Variety, 10 Mar. 2026
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
Having criticized the easy assumption that the international order will settle back into a natural balance, Prasad then smuggles in the idea of equilibrium again through the back door, left ajar by his firm faith in the market system.
—Jamie Merchant, Washington Post, 7 Nov. 2025
Liz Shackleton, Deadline, 19 Mar. 2026
Angela, grieving for her family and friends gone in the war, smuggles goods along the front lines to make a living.
—Murtada Elfadl, Variety, 10 Mar. 2026
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
Having criticized the easy assumption that the international order will settle back into a natural balance, Prasad then smuggles in the idea of equilibrium again through the back door, left ajar by his firm faith in the market system.
—Jamie Merchant, Washington Post, 7 Nov. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for smuggles
Verb
-
The space also features a boutique that sells mahjong tiles, mats and racks and a kitchen with drinks and snacks for sale.—
Claire Harutunian,
Charlotte Observer,
10 June 2026
-
Miniso sells toys, plushies, collectible blind boxes, stationery, beauty, home goods, electronics, snacks and more.—
Kansas City Star,
Kansas City Star,
10 June 2026
Verb
-
The Alaska Permanent Fund, which distributes oil revenues annually to state residents and is the closest domestic model, operates at the state level with a straightforward asset base.—
Beatrice Nolan,
Fortune,
9 June 2026
-
The city typically mails out more than 22,000 copies to residents and distributes about 2,000 copies at city facilities.—
Hannah Fry,
Los Angeles Times,
9 June 2026
Verb
-
Now Lestat has joined them, parading his vampirism to anyone who buys a ticket and drawing more and more ire from his law-abiding peers.—
Ben Travers,
IndieWire,
7 June 2026
-
And, when its time to sell, APMEX also buys gold, silver and platinum from consumers.—
Liz Knueven,
CNBC,
5 June 2026
Verb
-
This heritage can be felt everywhere, from the original kitchen (now reception) where the current owners’ grandmother used to sit, to the enormous vegetable garden that supplies the kitchen each day.—
Jaymi McCann,
TheWeek,
4 June 2026
-
One such prize, the Nancy, was transporting 2,000 muskets, 30 tons of musket balls and a massive 15-inch brass mortar – supplies the American army desperately needed for the war effort.—
Christopher Magra,
The Conversation,
2 June 2026
Cite this Entry
“Smuggles.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/smuggles. Accessed 13 Jun. 2026.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
