as in traded
to carry on the business of buying and selling goods or other property
arrested him for trafficking in drugs
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
Read More
Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors.
Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of trafficked
The mammals found in the Himalayas and mainland Southeast Asia into South China, are trafficked alive as exotic pets and their pelts are also sold illegally.
—
Laura Baisas, Popular Science, 7 Jan. 2026
Almost no fentanyl comes from Venezuela and what little cocaine is trafficked comes through Columbia and isn’t destined for the United States.
—Reader Commentary, Baltimore Sun, 7 Jan. 2026
Authorities estimate that as much as 250 tons of cocaine were trafficked through Venezuela by 2020, according to the indictment.
—Jill Lawless, Los Angeles Times, 3 Jan. 2026
Data shows that fentanyl continues to be the primary cause of drug overdose deaths in the United States, and that most of it is being imported, or trafficked, via Mexico.
—Nicole Russell, USA Today, 1 Jan. 2026
Jeffrey Epstein was a monster who trafficked underage women.
—NBC news, 21 Dec. 2025
Investigators estimate Saul Mache Mixe Store trafficked more than $121,000 in SNAP benefits within just a few months, again through transactions that appeared inconsistent with the store’s limited food offerings.
—Moná Thomas, PEOPLE, 18 Dec. 2025
Victims have alleged that the clients they were trafficked to internationally were high profile men — even foreign royalty or heads of state.
—Julie K. Brown, Miami Herald, 18 Dec. 2025
One specific example cited by Grossman showed how BBC Arabic gave greater prominence to Hamas in a BBC News story about a Yazidi woman who was allegedly rescued by Israeli soldiers after being trafficked to Gaza, where she was held captive by a Palestinian member of Hamas.
—Jake Kanter, Deadline, 5 Nov. 2025
Laura Baisas, Popular Science, 7 Jan. 2026
Almost no fentanyl comes from Venezuela and what little cocaine is trafficked comes through Columbia and isn’t destined for the United States.
—Reader Commentary, Baltimore Sun, 7 Jan. 2026
Authorities estimate that as much as 250 tons of cocaine were trafficked through Venezuela by 2020, according to the indictment.
—Jill Lawless, Los Angeles Times, 3 Jan. 2026
Data shows that fentanyl continues to be the primary cause of drug overdose deaths in the United States, and that most of it is being imported, or trafficked, via Mexico.
—Nicole Russell, USA Today, 1 Jan. 2026
Jeffrey Epstein was a monster who trafficked underage women.
—NBC news, 21 Dec. 2025
Investigators estimate Saul Mache Mixe Store trafficked more than $121,000 in SNAP benefits within just a few months, again through transactions that appeared inconsistent with the store’s limited food offerings.
—Moná Thomas, PEOPLE, 18 Dec. 2025
Victims have alleged that the clients they were trafficked to internationally were high profile men — even foreign royalty or heads of state.
—Julie K. Brown, Miami Herald, 18 Dec. 2025
One specific example cited by Grossman showed how BBC Arabic gave greater prominence to Hamas in a BBC News story about a Yazidi woman who was allegedly rescued by Israeli soldiers after being trafficked to Gaza, where she was held captive by a Palestinian member of Hamas.
—Jake Kanter, Deadline, 5 Nov. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for trafficked
Verb
-
The Twins traded away top relievers Jhoan Duran, Griffin Jax, Louis Varland, Caleb Thielbar, Danny Coulombe and Brock Stewart, so there are spots to be filled internally or through free agency.—
John Shipley,
Twin Cities,
24 Jan. 2026
-
The Patriots traded Stidham to the Raiders ahead of the 2022 season.—
Lance Reynolds,
Boston Herald,
24 Jan. 2026
Verb
-
Fans were dealt another devastating blow in 2024, when the couple’s eggs failed to hatch after a severe winter storm.—
Clara Harter,
Los Angeles Times,
24 Jan. 2026
-
Olynyk and the Spurs visit Kaseya Center March 23, if Olynyk isn’t dealt yet again by then.—
Ira Winderman,
Sun Sentinel,
24 Jan. 2026
Verb
-
Forbes estimates last year’s event generated more than $25 million in ticket sales and sold millions more in merchandise.—
Matt Craig,
Forbes.com,
29 Jan. 2026
-
Goodarzi, an engineer and tech executive, sold his clean energy company, US Hybrid, for $50 million in 2021, according to The California Post.—
Stepheny Price,
FOXNews.com,
28 Jan. 2026
Verb
-
Los Angeles, San Bernardino and Riverside counties served as distribution hubs for cocaine smuggled by Wedding’s organization, federal authorities charge.—
Richard Winton,
Los Angeles Times,
23 Jan. 2026
-
The Alabama Solution In The Alabama Solution, shot largely on cell phones smuggled into a prison by its inmates, The Jinx filmmaker Andrew Jarecki and co-director Charlotte Kauffman investigate systemic issues at Easterling Correctional Facility.—
Savannah Walsh,
Vanity Fair,
22 Jan. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Trafficked.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/trafficked. Accessed 30 Jan. 2026.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
