as in sells
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 smuggles
Produced by Mabel Cheung, Good Trip is the story of a young woman who smuggles her terminally ill father out of a hospital to address his unfulfilled wishes.
—
Liz Shackleton, Deadline, 19 Mar. 2026
Angela, grieving for her family and friends gone in the war, smuggles goods along the front lines to make a living.
—Murtada Elfadl, Variety, 10 Mar. 2026
Hickinbottom smuggles the little kitten aboard his ship, the HMS Amethyst, and the crew obviously immediately falls in love with him and names the little tuxedo cat Simon.
—Popular Science Team, Popular Science, 27 Feb. 2026
Not everyone smuggles them into print in the form of an imaginary friend.
—Ian Parker, New Yorker, 22 Dec. 2025
According to Reforma, Rocha, a Mexican businessman who also serves as a consul of Guatemala in Mexico, is considered by FRG to be an alleged leader of a criminal organization that smuggles fuel in boats through the Usumacinta River and then in trucks to Querétaro, Mexico.
—Luke Chinman, PEOPLE, 26 Nov. 2025
Liz Shackleton, Deadline, 19 Mar. 2026
Angela, grieving for her family and friends gone in the war, smuggles goods along the front lines to make a living.
—Murtada Elfadl, Variety, 10 Mar. 2026
Hickinbottom smuggles the little kitten aboard his ship, the HMS Amethyst, and the crew obviously immediately falls in love with him and names the little tuxedo cat Simon.
—Popular Science Team, Popular Science, 27 Feb. 2026
Not everyone smuggles them into print in the form of an imaginary friend.
—Ian Parker, New Yorker, 22 Dec. 2025
According to Reforma, Rocha, a Mexican businessman who also serves as a consul of Guatemala in Mexico, is considered by FRG to be an alleged leader of a criminal organization that smuggles fuel in boats through the Usumacinta River and then in trucks to Querétaro, Mexico.
—Luke Chinman, PEOPLE, 26 Nov. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for smuggles
Verb
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The group is among the most successful access-broker operations, a class of hackers that smashes and grabs credentials from victims and then sells them to other hackers.—
Dan Goodin,
ArsTechnica,
29 Apr. 2026
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Here, wander by historic mansions, stop at local cafes, and browse hip boutiques like Esencia Maya, a family run business that sells high-end fashions inspired by the Mayan culture.—
Condé Nast Traveler,
Condé Nast Traveler,
29 Apr. 2026
Verb
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Food restrictions for Cubans date back to 1962, when ration books were first established, a system that distributes monthly staples.—
Sarah Moreno
Updated April 29,
Miami Herald,
29 Apr. 2026
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The top half of the purifier features a glossy white, bladeless amplifier loop fan that distributes clean, hydrated air throughout the room.—
John R. Delaney,
PC Magazine,
28 Apr. 2026
Verb
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While Berkshire has generally not specified who buys specific stocks in the portfolio, Combs has been thought to favor technology and financials.—
Alex Crippen,
CNBC,
25 Apr. 2026
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As head of documentary and commissioning editor at VRT Canvas, Gommers buys, commissions, produces and co-produces standalone documentaries and documentary series alike.—
Kevin Giraud,
Variety,
24 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
Two double balance wheels inclined at 30 degrees dominate the lower half, with the upper half featuring a subdial for the running seconds, a four-minute indicator for the differential that supplies power to the two balances, and a linear power display.—
Rachel Cormack,
Robb Report,
25 Apr. 2026
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The audience supplies 100% of the subjects for both the show and the between-scene, old-style radio ads.—
John Wenzel,
Denver Post,
23 Apr. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Smuggles.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/smuggles. Accessed 2 May. 2026.
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