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
Tatsiana Kulakevich, The Conversation, 4 June 2026
Even if the administration had evidence of drug smuggling, that is not the same thing as a conviction; and even if these people had a conviction, federal law does not establish capital punishment for drug trafficking.
—David A. Graham, The Atlantic, 4 June 2026
Tamaulipas, which borders Texas, is a hub for fuel smuggling to and from the United States.
—Kate Linthicum, Los Angeles Times, 3 June 2026
Scientists accused of smuggling virus face prison Munster and Kwe are scheduled to appear voluntarily in federal court in Missoula, Montana, on June 3, the Detroit Free Press, part of the USA TODAY Network reported, but will eventually travel to Michigan and face prosecution in Detroit.
—Natalie Neysa Alund, USA Today, 3 June 2026
The latest movement in the legal case comes shortly after a federal judge tossed out an indictment that charged Abrego Garcia with human smuggling in Tennessee.
—Jt Moodee Lockman, CBS News, 3 June 2026
Two researchers with the National Institutes of Health have been charged with smuggling monkeypox into the United States and lying about it — an alleged crime that was detected at Detroit Metro Airport.
—Tresa Baldas, Freep.com, 3 June 2026
Officials described the discovery as a significant blow to criminal organizations that rely on underground smuggling routes to move narcotics and other contraband across the border.
—Greg Wehner, FOXNews.com, 2 June 2026
In a case filed in September, the DOJ claimed Volgaev concealed and misrepresented his involvement in the smuggling operation during his naturalization process and thus should lose citizenship.
—Jaclyn Diaz, NPR, 2 June 2026
CBS News, 9 June 2026
Bootleggers smuggling various liquors like whiskey and gin found that the soft drink was particularly good at making these spirits easier to drink.
—Andrea Romano, Travel + Leisure, 9 June 2026
From 2014 to 2018 alone, prosecutors allege, Ghomi is accused of smuggling more than 250 metric tons of networking equipment into Iran.
—Sean Emery, Oc Register, 3 June 2026
In June 2025, the Justice Department charged three Chinese citizens who did research at U-M with smuggling biological hazards into the United States.
—John Wisely, Freep.com, 3 June 2026
In 2023, a then-medical assistant working for Avid Healthcare Services was charged with smuggling meth into the jail.
—Theresa Clift
may 29, Sacbee.com, 29 May 2026
While little is known about the nephew at this time, El Chapo is notorious for leading the Sinaloa Cartel and smuggling drugs into the United States.
—David Zimmermann, The Washington Examiner, 26 May 2026
Congress is playing a role Congress has added to the pressure on nonprofits by holding hearings that have accused some of them of smuggling undocumented immigrants and alleging that others made improper payments to former Biden administration officials.
—Christopher Justin Einolf, The Conversation, 22 May 2026
So yes, one very important achievement is that Hamas cannot really strengthen itself militarily, because Israel controls the Philadelphi Corridor, which prevents Hamas from smuggling weapons into Gaza.
—Isaac Chotiner, New Yorker, 19 May 2026
Noun
In 2025, Lithuania took Belarus to the International Court of Justice, accusing the Lukashenko government of organizing large-scale migrant smuggling into Lithuania.
—Tatsiana Kulakevich, The Conversation, 4 June 2026
Even if the administration had evidence of drug smuggling, that is not the same thing as a conviction; and even if these people had a conviction, federal law does not establish capital punishment for drug trafficking.
—David A. Graham, The Atlantic, 4 June 2026
Tamaulipas, which borders Texas, is a hub for fuel smuggling to and from the United States.
—Kate Linthicum, Los Angeles Times, 3 June 2026
Scientists accused of smuggling virus face prison Munster and Kwe are scheduled to appear voluntarily in federal court in Missoula, Montana, on June 3, the Detroit Free Press, part of the USA TODAY Network reported, but will eventually travel to Michigan and face prosecution in Detroit.
—Natalie Neysa Alund, USA Today, 3 June 2026
The latest movement in the legal case comes shortly after a federal judge tossed out an indictment that charged Abrego Garcia with human smuggling in Tennessee.
—Jt Moodee Lockman, CBS News, 3 June 2026
Two researchers with the National Institutes of Health have been charged with smuggling monkeypox into the United States and lying about it — an alleged crime that was detected at Detroit Metro Airport.
—Tresa Baldas, Freep.com, 3 June 2026
Officials described the discovery as a significant blow to criminal organizations that rely on underground smuggling routes to move narcotics and other contraband across the border.
—Greg Wehner, FOXNews.com, 2 June 2026
In a case filed in September, the DOJ claimed Volgaev concealed and misrepresented his involvement in the smuggling operation during his naturalization process and thus should lose citizenship.
—Jaclyn Diaz, NPR, 2 June 2026
Verb
Two British men were sentenced in March to nine and 11 years in prison respectively after they were found guilty of smuggling cocaine into Bali.
—CBS News, 9 June 2026
Bootleggers smuggling various liquors like whiskey and gin found that the soft drink was particularly good at making these spirits easier to drink.
—Andrea Romano, Travel + Leisure, 9 June 2026
From 2014 to 2018 alone, prosecutors allege, Ghomi is accused of smuggling more than 250 metric tons of networking equipment into Iran.
—Sean Emery, Oc Register, 3 June 2026
In June 2025, the Justice Department charged three Chinese citizens who did research at U-M with smuggling biological hazards into the United States.
—John Wisely, Freep.com, 3 June 2026
In 2023, a then-medical assistant working for Avid Healthcare Services was charged with smuggling meth into the jail.
—Theresa Clift
may 29, Sacbee.com, 29 May 2026
While little is known about the nephew at this time, El Chapo is notorious for leading the Sinaloa Cartel and smuggling drugs into the United States.
—David Zimmermann, The Washington Examiner, 26 May 2026
Congress is playing a role Congress has added to the pressure on nonprofits by holding hearings that have accused some of them of smuggling undocumented immigrants and alleging that others made improper payments to former Biden administration officials.
—Christopher Justin Einolf, The Conversation, 22 May 2026
So yes, one very important achievement is that Hamas cannot really strengthen itself militarily, because Israel controls the Philadelphi Corridor, which prevents Hamas from smuggling weapons into Gaza.
—Isaac Chotiner, New Yorker, 19 May 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for smuggling
Noun
-
Braising, steaming, roasting, sautéing, poaching, or grilling all work great.—
Karla Walsh,
Better Homes & Gardens,
7 June 2026
-
The animal's population has been heavily impacted by habitat loss, poaching and disease, such as Ebola.—
Julia Gomez,
USA Today,
28 May 2026
Verb
-
That guy selling records seems pretty cool.—
Nathan Diller,
USA Today,
7 June 2026
-
But at the end of the day, this movie is selling itself.—
Anthony D'Alessandro,
Deadline,
7 June 2026
Noun
-
The park is also one of several spots in both the Inner and Outer Banks where Blackbeard was known to roam during his heyday of piracy.—
Caroline Eubanks,
Travel + Leisure,
4 June 2026
-
Working with global partners and law enforcement authorities, ACE places a leading role in identifying and disrupting live sports piracy networks.—
Brent Lang,
Variety,
2 June 2026
Verb
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The service has allowed some community building to develop, from distributing food or participating in World Cup collectible sticker books.—
Amna Subhan for the AJC,
AJC.com,
11 June 2026
-
But before taking the field at PNC Park against the Dodgers Tuesday night, some of the team spent the afternoon at Pittsburgh Arsenal in Lawrenceville, meeting students and staff and distributing boxes of food.—
Josh Taylor,
CBS News,
9 June 2026
Noun
-
Footage of a potential suspect recovered from a doorbell camera the night her disappearance led investigators to begin treating the case as a kidnapping.—
Ryan Coleman,
Entertainment Weekly,
12 June 2026
-
The defense challenged that interpretation, focusing on legal questions surrounding the status of the unborn child and whether kidnapping could be applied in the manner the prosecution argued.—
Isabella Wandermurem,
Time,
12 June 2026
Verb
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For information on how to help trafficking survivors, visit check out Camillus House or the Human Trafficking Hotline.—
Anna McAllister
June 9,
CBS News,
9 June 2026
-
When Tate was arrested on human-trafficking charges, his allies defended him.—
Heidi Blake,
New Yorker,
8 June 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
Verb
-
The base is used to store fuel reserves supplying the Russian military, according to the statement posted on Telegram.—
ABC News,
ABC News,
8 June 2026
-
But there have been questions about their ties in recent years, with North Korea prioritizing cooperation with Russia by supplying troops and weapons to support its war against Ukraine.—
Hyung-Jin Kim,
Los Angeles Times,
8 June 2026
Cite this Entry
“Smuggling.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/smuggling. Accessed 14 Jun. 2026.
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