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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Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of smuggling
Max Gao, HollywoodReporter, 3 Feb. 2026
Israel and Egypt are vetting travelers, and the crossing is being overseen with international involvement, officials said, as part of efforts to prevent weapons smuggling while allowing limited humanitarian movement.
—Bradford Betz, FOXNews.com, 2 Feb. 2026
Israel called its 2024 seizure of the Rafah crossing part of efforts to combat Hamas arms smuggling.
—Samy Magdy, Los Angeles Times, 1 Feb. 2026
Schlegel is expected to be charged via federal criminal complaint with assault on a federal officer, alien smuggling and felon in possession of a firearm in connection with Tuesday's shooting, Janke said.
—Meredith Deliso, ABC News, 28 Jan. 2026
Schlegel is expected to be charged with assault on a federal officer, alien smuggling and felon in possession of a firearm, Janke said.
—Natalie Neysa Alund, USA Today, 28 Jan. 2026
The driver allegedly has a history of human smuggling, specifically people who are in the country illegally, and was the target of the Border Patrol operation, the source said.
—Nicole Sganga, CBS News, 27 Jan. 2026
Also in play is Octopussy (Maud Adams) and her traveling circus, whom Orlov is using as a front for his smuggling operation.
—Sezin Devi Koehler, Entertainment Weekly, 27 Jan. 2026
He’d been caught smuggling gelignite in his ice-cream van.
—Michael Walker, New York Times, 27 Jan. 2026
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
Carlos Abundez pleaded guilty to smuggling the toucans and is expected to be sentenced in March, court records show.
—Andrew J. Campa, Los Angeles Times, 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
The number of Starlink terminals currently in Iran is limited and smuggling more devices into the country would be dangerous and take time, according to Iranian opposition activist and cyber expert Nariman Gharib.
—Somayeh Malekian, ABC News, 19 Jan. 2026
Last March, 23 inmates were charged with offenses ranging from smuggling weapons in a Doritos bag to the stabbing of a man convicted in the killing of hip-hop legend Jam Master Jay.
—Michael R. Sisak, Chicago Tribune, 4 Jan. 2026
In Black Panther, Killmonger’s father T’Chaka was killed by T’Challa’s (Chadwick Boseman) father for smuggling vibranium out of Wakanda, prompting him to duel T’Challa for the throne.
—Glenn Garner, Deadline, 4 Jan. 2026
Operation Gatekeeper resulted in the arrests of two businessmen and a guilty plea from a Houston man and his company for smuggling the cutting-edge AI technology.
—Magdalena Petrova,eamon Javers, CNBC, 31 Dec. 2025
Noun
Now operating from the shadows in Colombia, Roper has been operating a massive arms-smuggling ring with the goal of rebuilding his empire and bankrolling a private guerrilla army to topple the local government.
—Max Gao, HollywoodReporter, 3 Feb. 2026
Israel and Egypt are vetting travelers, and the crossing is being overseen with international involvement, officials said, as part of efforts to prevent weapons smuggling while allowing limited humanitarian movement.
—Bradford Betz, FOXNews.com, 2 Feb. 2026
Israel called its 2024 seizure of the Rafah crossing part of efforts to combat Hamas arms smuggling.
—Samy Magdy, Los Angeles Times, 1 Feb. 2026
Schlegel is expected to be charged via federal criminal complaint with assault on a federal officer, alien smuggling and felon in possession of a firearm in connection with Tuesday's shooting, Janke said.
—Meredith Deliso, ABC News, 28 Jan. 2026
Schlegel is expected to be charged with assault on a federal officer, alien smuggling and felon in possession of a firearm, Janke said.
—Natalie Neysa Alund, USA Today, 28 Jan. 2026
The driver allegedly has a history of human smuggling, specifically people who are in the country illegally, and was the target of the Border Patrol operation, the source said.
—Nicole Sganga, CBS News, 27 Jan. 2026
Also in play is Octopussy (Maud Adams) and her traveling circus, whom Orlov is using as a front for his smuggling operation.
—Sezin Devi Koehler, Entertainment Weekly, 27 Jan. 2026
He’d been caught smuggling gelignite in his ice-cream van.
—Michael Walker, New York Times, 27 Jan. 2026
Verb
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
Carlos Abundez pleaded guilty to smuggling the toucans and is expected to be sentenced in March, court records show.
—Andrew J. Campa, Los Angeles Times, 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
The number of Starlink terminals currently in Iran is limited and smuggling more devices into the country would be dangerous and take time, according to Iranian opposition activist and cyber expert Nariman Gharib.
—Somayeh Malekian, ABC News, 19 Jan. 2026
Last March, 23 inmates were charged with offenses ranging from smuggling weapons in a Doritos bag to the stabbing of a man convicted in the killing of hip-hop legend Jam Master Jay.
—Michael R. Sisak, Chicago Tribune, 4 Jan. 2026
In Black Panther, Killmonger’s father T’Chaka was killed by T’Challa’s (Chadwick Boseman) father for smuggling vibranium out of Wakanda, prompting him to duel T’Challa for the throne.
—Glenn Garner, Deadline, 4 Jan. 2026
Operation Gatekeeper resulted in the arrests of two businessmen and a guilty plea from a Houston man and his company for smuggling the cutting-edge AI technology.
—Magdalena Petrova,eamon Javers, CNBC, 31 Dec. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for smuggling
Noun
-
There was some chatter about Alshon’s over-poaching in the final, but sometimes a super-dominant male strategy works.—
Todd Boss,
Forbes.com,
26 Jan. 2026
-
Why the birth matters The species is threatened by habitat loss, poaching and armed conflict in its native range.—
Daniel Hunt
January 16,
Sacbee.com,
16 Jan. 2026
Verb
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The members of the best-selling R&B group took home their first awards in 2001, and Beyoncé has continued to rack up more trophies ever since.—
Andrea Wurzburger,
PEOPLE,
1 Feb. 2026
-
Some brands are also trying to discreetly hop on the bandwagon, walking a fine line by selling candles featuring the characters’ jersey numbers and editing their products into pictures from the show’s premiere.—
Henry Austin,
NBC news,
1 Feb. 2026
Noun
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To many archaeologists around the world, the organization’s emphasis on recovering treasure amounted to piracy, flouting international standards for the preservation of cultural heritage.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
28 Jan. 2026
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The leagues and federations that sell broadcasting rights are struggling to convince people that online piracy is bad.—
Olivia Solon,
Bloomberg,
27 Jan. 2026
Verb
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The San Diego Air Pollution Control District launched the program in 2024, distributing over 10,000 purifiers to local residents.—
Walker Armstrong,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
29 Jan. 2026
-
Markiplier, who boasts 73 million followers across digital platforms, including 38 million subscribers on Youtube, is also self-distributing the film.—
Rebecca Rubin,
Variety,
28 Jan. 2026
Noun
-
Jury selection in the capital murder trial of Tanner Horner, the FedEx driver accused of kidnapping and killing North Texas girl Athena Strand, began Thursday morning.—
Harriet Ramos,
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
30 Jan. 2026
-
Shortly after Tate's killing, the duo returned to Texas where Sneed was charged with kidnapping and sentenced to 40 years in prison.—
Christine Pelisek,
PEOPLE,
30 Jan. 2026
Verb
-
The speakers took questions from concerned parents, who asked about the use of artificial intelligence to create pornographic images — a growing threat on social media — and what law enforcement will do about trafficking as the World Cup approaches.—
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
4 Feb. 2026
-
In December, two Massachusetts store owners were charged in a $7 million SNAP benefits trafficking scheme.—
Louisa Moller,
CBS News,
4 Feb. 2026
Noun
-
In parts of the country, violent attacks, kidnappings and banditry shadow daily life.—
Vanessa Offiong,
CNN Money,
19 Dec. 2025
-
Now as then, insecurity at Nigerian schools in the north is occurring in the context of a broad rash of violence across the country, from farmer-herder conflicts in the east and central regions, armed banditry attacks in the northwest, and youth restiveness in the south.—
Alexander Onukwue,
semafor.com,
24 Nov. 2025
Noun
-
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 5 Feb. 2026.
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