as in sold
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 contraband
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Recent Examples of smuggled
Anupama Chopra, The Hollywood Reporter, 2 Jan. 2025
They are smuggled to Bangladesh and India by ethnic rebels who are both fighting the junta and in business with it.
—Hannah Beech, New York Times, 31 Dec. 2024
Anti-junta forces now control the entire China-Kachin boundary, through which rare earths, timber, jade and other treasures are smuggled.
—Hannah Beech, New York Times, 31 Dec. 2024
Bad policy is often smuggled into law in must-pass omnibus packages.
—David Williams, National Review, 26 Dec. 2024
When exactly the statue’s head and torso were separated isn’t known, but experts now think that both pieces were smuggled out of the country in the 1960s.
—Julia Binswanger, Smithsonian Magazine, 16 Dec. 2024
Over the past year, these criminal groups allegedly smuggled a tonne of gold while recruiting couriers on commercial flights.
—Gordon G. Chang, Newsweek, 11 Dec. 2024
In 2022, the Museum for Rescued Art opened in Rome to display artifacts that were stolen from across Italy and smuggled into the United States.
—Ella Feldman, Smithsonian Magazine, 11 Dec. 2024
In 2022, the Saudi ambassador in Beirut reported that the authorities in the kingdom had confiscated 700 million tablets smuggled from Lebanon since 2014.
—Tim Lister, CNN, 11 Dec. 2024
Adjective
At various points, young girls are smuggled in containers and even in animal carcasses.
—Anupama Chopra, The Hollywood Reporter, 2 Jan. 2025
They are smuggled to Bangladesh and India by ethnic rebels who are both fighting the junta and in business with it.
—Hannah Beech, New York Times, 31 Dec. 2024
Anti-junta forces now control the entire China-Kachin boundary, through which rare earths, timber, jade and other treasures are smuggled.
—Hannah Beech, New York Times, 31 Dec. 2024
Bad policy is often smuggled into law in must-pass omnibus packages.
—David Williams, National Review, 26 Dec. 2024
When exactly the statue’s head and torso were separated isn’t known, but experts now think that both pieces were smuggled out of the country in the 1960s.
—Julia Binswanger, Smithsonian Magazine, 16 Dec. 2024
Over the past year, these criminal groups allegedly smuggled a tonne of gold while recruiting couriers on commercial flights.
—Gordon G. Chang, Newsweek, 11 Dec. 2024
In 2022, the Museum for Rescued Art opened in Rome to display artifacts that were stolen from across Italy and smuggled into the United States.
—Ella Feldman, Smithsonian Magazine, 11 Dec. 2024
In 2022, the Saudi ambassador in Beirut reported that the authorities in the kingdom had confiscated 700 million tablets smuggled from Lebanon since 2014.
—Tim Lister, CNN, 11 Dec. 2024
Recent Examples of Synonyms for smuggled
Verb
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They were sold in California, Missouri, Pennsylvania and Wyoming.—
Cara Tabachnick,
CBS News,
28 Dec. 2024
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The winning ticket in Friday's drawing was sold at a Circle K store in Cottonwood, California.—
Cara Tabachnick,
CBS News,
28 Dec. 2024
Verb
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Individual schools will determine how much will be distributed to each team.—
Blair Kerkhoff,
Kansas City Star,
31 Mar. 2025
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What to Know Retirement checks are distributed throughout the month, based on the recipient's birth date and the duration of their benefit payments.—
Ron Estes,
MSNBC Newsweek,
31 Mar. 2025
Adjective
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The Office of State Budget and Management, if the bill becomes law, would determine if unauthorized immigrants are receiving such benefits.—
Alan Wooten,
The Washington Examiner,
13 July 2025
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Trump in January signed into law the Laken Riley Act, which requires the detention of unauthorized immigrants accused of theft and violent crimes.—
Christiaan Hetzner,
Fortune,
12 July 2025
Adjective
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Despite killing someone, and later being arrested for driving unlicensed and giving police a false name, Martinez was issued a new California driver’s license in 2023.—
CalMatters,
Mercury News,
9 July 2025
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Such facilities came under intense scrutiny after abuse allegations at Cedar County’s Circle of Hope Girls Ranch were revealed in 2020 and an investigation by The Star found that problems at unlicensed religious schools existed across the state.—
Judy L. Thomas,
Kansas City Star,
8 July 2025
Adjective
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In Florida, a new law makes unapproved cloud seeding and other similar activities a third-degree felony, punishable by up to five years in prison or significantly raised fines of up to $100,000.—
Kate Plummer,
MSNBC Newsweek,
6 July 2025
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Bros Liquor had stored an unapproved household spray bottle with pesticide inside the restroom, and there were no paper towels.—
Veronica Fernandez-Alvarado
July 4,
Sacbee.com,
4 July 2025
Adjective
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As of Friday afternoon, the National Parks Service had approved a protest permit for just one demonstration related to the parade, but other unsanctioned protests could pop up.—
Alana Wise,
NPR,
14 June 2025
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In their defense, Secretary Clinton and other officials have said that the unsanctioned communication methods are, simply put, more convenient.—
Anna Mulrine Grobe,
Christian Science Monitor,
8 May 2025
Cite this Entry
“Smuggled.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/smuggled. Accessed 19 Jul. 2025.
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