as in poaching
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as in selling
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 smuggling
Angélica Durán-Martínez, The Conversation, 24 Feb. 2026
Unconditional follows a mother-daughter vacation turned nightmare when 23-year-old Gali (Talia Lynne Ronn) is arrested for drug smuggling in Moscow.
—Rosy Cordero, Deadline, 23 Feb. 2026
The two groups are also embroiled in a struggle in the state of Chiapas, on the border with Guatemala, over control of migrant smuggling, according to InSightCrime.
—Tim Lister, CNN Money, 23 Feb. 2026
The death of Oseguera, like the previous takedowns of El Chapo and other cartel leaders, is unlikely to reduce the volume of drug-smuggling to the United States, experts said.
—Kate Linthicum, Los Angeles Times, 22 Feb. 2026
The gang built a sophisticated drug smuggling network throughout the Florida prison system.
—Silas Morgan, The Orlando Sentinel, 20 Feb. 2026
Murphy only wants to escape and regain custody of his daughter, Penny, but becomes entangled in Clancy’s perilous gold smuggling scheme, facing threats from both the treacherous wilderness and potential betrayal within his own group.
—Etan Vlessing, HollywoodReporter, 17 Feb. 2026
But the administration ultimately did not block it after hearing from communities grappling with deadly human smuggling cases that local law enforcement struggled to address, Meissner explained to NPR.
—Jaclyn Diaz, NPR, 17 Feb. 2026
The first interdiction took place Monday near the Fort Lauderdale sea buoy, where Coast Guard crews and a CBP Office of Field Operations K9 unit stopped a vessel suspected of drug smuggling.
—Milena Malaver, Miami Herald, 15 Feb. 2026
Bradford Betz, FOXNews.com, 12 Feb. 2026
In fall 2023, the Sheriff’s Office investigated a spate of overdose inmate deaths, then arrested several staffers tied to Avid Healthcare Services, a health care contractor, for smuggling drugs into the jail in exchange for money.
—Theresa Clift, Sacbee.com, 10 Feb. 2026
Saudi Arabi accused the UAE of supporting the separatists, and smuggling the STC leader, Aidarous al-Zubaidi, who is wanted for treason, out of Yemen and flying him to Abu Dhabi.
—Arkansas Online, 8 Feb. 2026
Israeli court indicts the brother of Shin Bet chief David Zini for smuggling tens of thousands of dollars’ worth of cigarettes into Gaza during the war.
—Julia Frankel, Los Angeles Times, 5 Feb. 2026
Iran seizes oil tankers Iran seized two foreign oil tankers in the Persian Gulf on Thursday, state television reported, claiming the vessels had been smuggling fuel.
—Boston Herald Wire Services, Boston Herald, 5 Feb. 2026
Until the Red Wings make the playoffs and fans start smuggling dead cephalopods into Little Caesars Arena, the rats are king.
—Sean Gentille, New York Times, 31 Jan. 2026
And the Iranian government is cracking down on satellite internet users and arresting those smuggling the terminals.
—Lauren Kent, CNN Money, 30 Jan. 2026
In November, four other men received sentences ranging from 37 days to 30 months for smuggling 21 people to Guam, all of whom were Chinese nationals who the Justice Department said were attempting to avoid airport immigration checks.
—Graham Kates, CBS News, 20 Jan. 2026
Noun
Besides drug trafficking, the Jalisco New Generation Cartel is also engaged in oil theft, people smuggling and extortion.
—Angélica Durán-Martínez, The Conversation, 24 Feb. 2026
Unconditional follows a mother-daughter vacation turned nightmare when 23-year-old Gali (Talia Lynne Ronn) is arrested for drug smuggling in Moscow.
—Rosy Cordero, Deadline, 23 Feb. 2026
The two groups are also embroiled in a struggle in the state of Chiapas, on the border with Guatemala, over control of migrant smuggling, according to InSightCrime.
—Tim Lister, CNN Money, 23 Feb. 2026
The death of Oseguera, like the previous takedowns of El Chapo and other cartel leaders, is unlikely to reduce the volume of drug-smuggling to the United States, experts said.
—Kate Linthicum, Los Angeles Times, 22 Feb. 2026
The gang built a sophisticated drug smuggling network throughout the Florida prison system.
—Silas Morgan, The Orlando Sentinel, 20 Feb. 2026
Murphy only wants to escape and regain custody of his daughter, Penny, but becomes entangled in Clancy’s perilous gold smuggling scheme, facing threats from both the treacherous wilderness and potential betrayal within his own group.
—Etan Vlessing, HollywoodReporter, 17 Feb. 2026
But the administration ultimately did not block it after hearing from communities grappling with deadly human smuggling cases that local law enforcement struggled to address, Meissner explained to NPR.
—Jaclyn Diaz, NPR, 17 Feb. 2026
The first interdiction took place Monday near the Fort Lauderdale sea buoy, where Coast Guard crews and a CBP Office of Field Operations K9 unit stopped a vessel suspected of drug smuggling.
—Milena Malaver, Miami Herald, 15 Feb. 2026
Verb
Tim Raymond, acting assistant special agent in charge for Homeland Security Investigations in Lubbock, said the case highlights the broader dangers tied to smuggling operations.
—Bradford Betz, FOXNews.com, 12 Feb. 2026
In fall 2023, the Sheriff’s Office investigated a spate of overdose inmate deaths, then arrested several staffers tied to Avid Healthcare Services, a health care contractor, for smuggling drugs into the jail in exchange for money.
—Theresa Clift, Sacbee.com, 10 Feb. 2026
Saudi Arabi accused the UAE of supporting the separatists, and smuggling the STC leader, Aidarous al-Zubaidi, who is wanted for treason, out of Yemen and flying him to Abu Dhabi.
—Arkansas Online, 8 Feb. 2026
Israeli court indicts the brother of Shin Bet chief David Zini for smuggling tens of thousands of dollars’ worth of cigarettes into Gaza during the war.
—Julia Frankel, Los Angeles Times, 5 Feb. 2026
Iran seizes oil tankers Iran seized two foreign oil tankers in the Persian Gulf on Thursday, state television reported, claiming the vessels had been smuggling fuel.
—Boston Herald Wire Services, Boston Herald, 5 Feb. 2026
Until the Red Wings make the playoffs and fans start smuggling dead cephalopods into Little Caesars Arena, the rats are king.
—Sean Gentille, New York Times, 31 Jan. 2026
And the Iranian government is cracking down on satellite internet users and arresting those smuggling the terminals.
—Lauren Kent, CNN Money, 30 Jan. 2026
In November, four other men received sentences ranging from 37 days to 30 months for smuggling 21 people to Guam, all of whom were Chinese nationals who the Justice Department said were attempting to avoid airport immigration checks.
—Graham Kates, CBS News, 20 Jan. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for smuggling
Noun
-
Lucas, during his speech on Wednesday, offered a brief nod at the border war, referencing — but not directly mentioning — Missouri and Kansas City’s recent decisions to exit an economic truce with Kansas that limited cross-state business poaching.—
Kacen Bayless,
Kansas City Star,
11 Feb. 2026
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Under state law, abalone poaching can carry penalties of up to $40,000 in fines and one year in jail.—
Julia Jacobo,
ABC News,
9 Feb. 2026
Verb
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One of The Economist’s longtime owners is selling her stake.—
Max Tani,
semafor.com,
23 Feb. 2026
-
The ruling is a reminder that some judges view antitrust lawsuits over Division I athlete eligibility as fundamentally a question of economic competition—namely, an athlete selling their services to the marketplace of college buyers—rather than an educational or social issue.—
Michael McCann,
Sportico.com,
22 Feb. 2026
Noun
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Putin denounced that interception as an act of piracy.—
Los Angeles Times,
Los Angeles Times,
17 Feb. 2026
-
Worse still, the world’s navies are simply not equipped to provide the level of protection required against terrorism, piracy, and regional wars.—
David Szondy
February 15,
New Atlas,
15 Feb. 2026
Verb
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Protective barriers like rug pads can help with distributing the weight from a heavy piece of furniture, but these aren't foolproof, Cox says.—
Caroline Lubinsky,
Martha Stewart,
19 Feb. 2026
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In at least one case, a Riverside County church is distributing special Lent packets, complete with small baggies of Lenten ash, to be delivered to those too fearful of coming in person to a church.—
Julianna Lozada,
Daily News,
18 Feb. 2026
Noun
-
Attorney Warren Lupel, who represented Gary Dotson, a Chicago-area man who went to prison after being convicted of rape and kidnapping but was freed after the woman who accused him of those crimes recanted her testimony, has died.—
Bob Goldsborough,
Chicago Tribune,
20 Feb. 2026
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Authorities have not determined if the glove is connected to the kidnapping.—
Chelsea Bailey,
CNN Money,
20 Feb. 2026
Verb
-
Wasserman has apologized for his association with Maxwell, who was later sentenced to prison for trafficking minors.—
Dakota Smith,
Los Angeles Times,
19 Feb. 2026
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People found trafficking others could be fined up to $10,000 the first time they’re caught, and up to $20,000 for each time after that.—
Jakob Rodgers,
Mercury News,
18 Feb. 2026
Noun
-
In the northwest, criminal banditry has taken root in areas where state presence is thin.—
Yusuf Tuggar,
semafor.com,
16 Feb. 2026
-
In parts of the country, violent attacks, kidnappings and banditry shadow daily life.—
Vanessa Offiong,
CNN Money,
19 Dec. 2025
Noun
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From the anti-Trump side, meanwhile, the American people hear a nervous rustling of vague doubts.—
David Frum,
The Atlantic,
3 Jan. 2026
-
In the teaser, above, Joanna, 47, can be seen speaking on-camera discussing the plans for the construction of the home on the balcony before a rustling can be heard coming from the woods behind her.—
Kimberlee Speakman,
PEOPLE,
27 Nov. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Smuggling.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/smuggling. Accessed 26 Feb. 2026.
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