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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as in poaching
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Recent Examples of smuggling
Charlie Campbell, Time, 30 Oct. 2025
Crenshaw has also ordered the DOJ to turn over internal communications tied to the decision to pursue the case, which resulted in two immigrant-smuggling charges returned by a grand jury in May.
—Kaelan Deese, The Washington Examiner, 29 Oct. 2025
But that also means smuggling organizations are becoming more sophisticated and are taking greater risks, Saldivar said.
—Daniel Gonzalez, AZCentral.com, 29 Oct. 2025
Li said Sunday that the parties had brokered a preliminary framework for a trade truce including new provisions regarding China’s export controls and safeguards against the smuggling of fentanyl and its chemical precursors.
—Kate Nishimura, Sourcing Journal, 27 Oct. 2025
What once were tools for surveillance and smuggling are now weapons of intimidation and terror.
—Tania Navarro, San Diego Union-Tribune, 24 Oct. 2025
The prison drug ring involved the coordination of multi-pound deals on the outside, even in other states, as well as smuggling of methamphetamine and heroin into the prison, court records show.
—Nate Gartrell, Mercury News, 24 Oct. 2025
The missions have ranged from attacks on smuggling boats to the destruction of a submersible.
—Michael Dorgan, FOXNews.com, 24 Oct. 2025
The United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime says Indonesia is a major drug smuggling hub despite having some of the strictest drug laws in the world, in part because international drug syndicates target its young population.
—CNN Money, 22 Oct. 2025
Danny Bakst, Fortune, 5 Oct. 2025
Unable to land a starting spot on the team, Hanson turned to drugs to get ahead, smuggling in steroids from Tijuana to gain a physical advantage.
—Barry Levitt, Time, 26 Sep. 2025
Yunqing Jian was accused in the case of smuggling a fungus that federal prosecutors said can cause a disease in crops.
—Christina Hall, Freep.com, 19 Sep. 2025
Federal agents stopped three boats that were en route to South Florida from the Bahamas and were smuggling large loads of cocaine and dozens of Chinese migrants last week, according to court documents.
—David Goodhue, Miami Herald, 5 Sep. 2025
While in prison, Bundy escaped twice, and it is believed that Boone assisted his escapes by smuggling him cash, per Rolling Stone.
—Makena Gera, People.com, 26 Aug. 2025
In recent years, thieves have pulled off elaborate heists of rare, million-dollar collectible cars, sometimes smuggling them out of their country of origin, retrofitting them with fake paperwork, and reselling them on the international market.
—Stayton Bonner, Robb Report, 24 Aug. 2025
Heng had been involved in smuggling the fish in luggage and selling them, but he was only charged with possession, prosecutors said.
—Miguel Torres, AZCentral.com, 21 Aug. 2025
In a similar case in March, another Chinese national, Sai Keung Tin, also known as Ricky Tin, was sentenced to 30 months in prison for smuggling more than 2,100 eastern box turtles, the DOJ said at the time.
—Chelsea Chan, NBC news, 12 Aug. 2025
Verb
In Ghana, the nation’s first commercial gold refinery opened in August 2024 and Mahama launched a new regulator, GoldBod, to crack down on smuggling and boost state revenues.
—Charlie Campbell, Time, 30 Oct. 2025
Crenshaw has also ordered the DOJ to turn over internal communications tied to the decision to pursue the case, which resulted in two immigrant-smuggling charges returned by a grand jury in May.
—Kaelan Deese, The Washington Examiner, 29 Oct. 2025
But that also means smuggling organizations are becoming more sophisticated and are taking greater risks, Saldivar said.
—Daniel Gonzalez, AZCentral.com, 29 Oct. 2025
Li said Sunday that the parties had brokered a preliminary framework for a trade truce including new provisions regarding China’s export controls and safeguards against the smuggling of fentanyl and its chemical precursors.
—Kate Nishimura, Sourcing Journal, 27 Oct. 2025
What once were tools for surveillance and smuggling are now weapons of intimidation and terror.
—Tania Navarro, San Diego Union-Tribune, 24 Oct. 2025
The prison drug ring involved the coordination of multi-pound deals on the outside, even in other states, as well as smuggling of methamphetamine and heroin into the prison, court records show.
—Nate Gartrell, Mercury News, 24 Oct. 2025
The missions have ranged from attacks on smuggling boats to the destruction of a submersible.
—Michael Dorgan, FOXNews.com, 24 Oct. 2025
The United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime says Indonesia is a major drug smuggling hub despite having some of the strictest drug laws in the world, in part because international drug syndicates target its young population.
—CNN Money, 22 Oct. 2025
Noun
Belarusian smugglers are increasingly using the balloons, which are much cheaper than drones, for smuggling cigarettes into the European Union, Buta said.
—Danny Bakst, Fortune, 5 Oct. 2025
Unable to land a starting spot on the team, Hanson turned to drugs to get ahead, smuggling in steroids from Tijuana to gain a physical advantage.
—Barry Levitt, Time, 26 Sep. 2025
Yunqing Jian was accused in the case of smuggling a fungus that federal prosecutors said can cause a disease in crops.
—Christina Hall, Freep.com, 19 Sep. 2025
Federal agents stopped three boats that were en route to South Florida from the Bahamas and were smuggling large loads of cocaine and dozens of Chinese migrants last week, according to court documents.
—David Goodhue, Miami Herald, 5 Sep. 2025
While in prison, Bundy escaped twice, and it is believed that Boone assisted his escapes by smuggling him cash, per Rolling Stone.
—Makena Gera, People.com, 26 Aug. 2025
In recent years, thieves have pulled off elaborate heists of rare, million-dollar collectible cars, sometimes smuggling them out of their country of origin, retrofitting them with fake paperwork, and reselling them on the international market.
—Stayton Bonner, Robb Report, 24 Aug. 2025
Heng had been involved in smuggling the fish in luggage and selling them, but he was only charged with possession, prosecutors said.
—Miguel Torres, AZCentral.com, 21 Aug. 2025
In a similar case in March, another Chinese national, Sai Keung Tin, also known as Ricky Tin, was sentenced to 30 months in prison for smuggling more than 2,100 eastern box turtles, the DOJ said at the time.
—Chelsea Chan, NBC news, 12 Aug. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for smuggling
Verb
-
According to the Maryland Lottery, the liquor store will receive $500 for selling a winner ticket.—
Charlotte Phillipp,
PEOPLE,
29 Oct. 2025
-
Known for its best-selling air purifiers, Levoit brings that same filtration power to this vacuum.—
Mariana Best,
Better Homes & Gardens,
28 Oct. 2025
Noun
-
The healthiest cooking methods include boiling, poaching, baking, and scrambling.—
Jillian Kubala,
Health,
27 Oct. 2025
-
Its lighter, more delicate texture is best suited to baking, poaching, or searing.—
Rachael Zimlich,
Verywell Health,
24 Oct. 2025
Verb
-
The Capital Area Food Bank has been distributing food to federal workers affected by the shutdown.—
The NPR Network,
NPR,
30 Oct. 2025
-
Franklin nonprofit OneGenAway will be hosting drive-thru food pickups throughout November, distributing both shelf-stable foods and fresh produce.—
Vivian Jones,
Nashville Tennessean,
30 Oct. 2025
Noun
-
The Live Tier includes real-time intelligence and technology to address piracy immediately, via relationships with law enforcement entities.—
Ted Johnson,
Deadline,
21 Oct. 2025
-
Any such seizures, Putin warned, would be considered piracy and could destabilize the global oil market.—
Gabe Whisnant,
MSNBC Newsweek,
2 Oct. 2025
Verb
-
Now — with the counter-trafficking crusade poised to continue — some members of Congress are sounding alarm bells.—
Brendan Rascius,
Miami Herald,
24 Oct. 2025
-
The unsealed videos showed officers, including former CMPD officer Heather Loveridge, swarming the home of a man who was accused of trafficking methamphetamine.—
Charlotte Observer,
Charlotte Observer,
24 Oct. 2025
Noun
-
That closeness, Peters said, makes Americans prime targets for extortion, kidnapping and terror.—
Sarah Rumpf-Whitten,
FOXNews.com,
26 Oct. 2025
-
He was sentenced to 17 years for armed kidnapping and 17 years for armed burglary with assault or battery.—
Grethel Aguila,
Miami Herald,
25 Oct. 2025
Verb
-
The batteries supplying the power for the Longbows are unknown.—
New Atlas,
New Atlas,
31 Oct. 2025
-
The 650,000 barrel-a-day Dangote Refinery in Lagos is Nigeria’s largest and sole private refinery, supplying 20 million liters of petrol to the country daily.—
Alexander Onukwue,
semafor.com,
30 Oct. 2025
Noun
-
In Nigeria, for example, states like Borno, Zamfara, and parts of Kaduna and Katsina have experienced ongoing insecurity due to armed insurgent groups and banditry, which can restrict or delay vaccination campaigns.—
Dr. Tunji Funsho,
Time,
24 Oct. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Smuggling.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/smuggling. Accessed 1 Nov. 2025.
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