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
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
The boat was intercepted off the northern coast of Venezuela, near a small fishing town called San Juan de Unare, which, in the past two decades, has become a transit point for the smuggling of cocaine and marijuana.
—Jonathan Blitzer, New Yorker, 21 Oct. 2025
Convicted on federal conspiracy and smuggling charges, Estrada was sentenced to five years in prison in 2017, alongside sports agent Bartolo Hernandez who was handed a four-year sentence.
—Stewart Clarke, Deadline, 16 Oct. 2025
There’s no smuggling of weapons into Gaza.
—Chantal Da Silva, NBC news, 15 Oct. 2025
Officials argue that the approach gives Washington greater legal and military latitude to strike at foreign groups involved in narcotics smuggling.
—Antonio María Delgado, Miami Herald, 14 Oct. 2025
Abrego Garcia was brought back to the United States from El Salvador in June to face criminal charges of human smuggling in Tennessee.
—Ely Brown, ABC News, 6 Oct. 2025
The auditors chose to look into how CBP inspects returning cruise passengers following recent years’ assessments from CBP field offices that cited a growing threat of drug contraband smuggling by way of cruises.
—Anna Giaritelli, The Washington Examiner, 5 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
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
The boat was intercepted off the northern coast of Venezuela, near a small fishing town called San Juan de Unare, which, in the past two decades, has become a transit point for the smuggling of cocaine and marijuana.
—Jonathan Blitzer, New Yorker, 21 Oct. 2025
Convicted on federal conspiracy and smuggling charges, Estrada was sentenced to five years in prison in 2017, alongside sports agent Bartolo Hernandez who was handed a four-year sentence.
—Stewart Clarke, Deadline, 16 Oct. 2025
There’s no smuggling of weapons into Gaza.
—Chantal Da Silva, NBC news, 15 Oct. 2025
Officials argue that the approach gives Washington greater legal and military latitude to strike at foreign groups involved in narcotics smuggling.
—Antonio María Delgado, Miami Herald, 14 Oct. 2025
Abrego Garcia was brought back to the United States from El Salvador in June to face criminal charges of human smuggling in Tennessee.
—Ely Brown, ABC News, 6 Oct. 2025
The auditors chose to look into how CBP inspects returning cruise passengers following recent years’ assessments from CBP field offices that cited a growing threat of drug contraband smuggling by way of cruises.
—Anna Giaritelli, The Washington Examiner, 5 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
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Shop the brand’s best-selling hoodies, lightweight jackets, leggings, sweaters, and more.—
Caley Sturgill,
Southern Living,
21 Oct. 2025
-
Charlotte Tilbury only just launched at Amazon, but this best-selling liquid highlighter is already marked down, as is this Lancôme mascara that defines, volumizes, and lengthens lashes in one fell swoop.—
Clara McMahon,
PEOPLE,
21 Oct. 2025
Noun
-
Their main killers are loss of habitat, poaching and disease, according to the nonprofit fund.—
Dennis Romero,
NBC news,
15 Oct. 2025
-
Subsistence poaching is done by groups and individuals to fulfill their own nutritional needs, whereas commercial poaching is done for profit.—
Jordan King,
MSNBC Newsweek,
7 Oct. 2025
Verb
-
Her nonprofit, the Health Freedom Defense Fund, is now distributing model legislation and a how-to guide, with talking points to persuade legislators.—
Audrey Dutton,
CNN Money,
23 Oct. 2025
-
Zegna ventured into new territory by producing and distributing all of Ford’s men’s and women’s fashion and accessories.—
Footwear News,
Footwear News,
21 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
-
Britain has been a European ally of Ukraine, helping to train forces and supplying the country with weapons and support.—
Simon Perry,
PEOPLE,
24 Oct. 2025
-
The 42-seat cinema has largely hosted private screenings for family members, with studios supplying major releases, but presidents have also hosted higher profile, publicized screenings with guests from the entertainment industry.—
Ted Johnson,
Deadline,
23 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 28 Oct. 2025.
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