smuggled; smuggling
ˈsmə-g(ə-)liŋ 
1
: to import or export secretly contrary to the law and especially without paying duties imposed by law
2
: to convey or introduce surreptitiously
: to import or export something in violation of the customs laws
Examples of smuggle in a Sentence
He was arrested for smuggling drugs into the country.
They smuggled immigrants across the border.
The paintings had been smuggled out of the country before the war.
We smuggled his favorite sandwich past the nurse.
Recent Examples on the Web
Yet Israel must vet aid going in because Hamas has historically used aid deliveries to smuggle in weapons.
—
The Editors, National Review, 17 Oct. 2024
The fossil, which had likely been smuggled out of Brazil decades earlier, now sat at the heart of a growing storm over scientific ethics, national heritage and the dark underbelly of the fossil trade.
—Scott Travers, Forbes, 10 Oct. 2024
Federal officials allege that a seller used the platform to smuggle ancient Egyptian antiquities into the U.S.
A major shoplifting report has gone missing.
—Melvin Backman, Quartz, 10 Oct. 2024
In April, a sheriff’s deputy who was part of a task force focused on keeping Los Angeles County’s jails free of drugs and gang activity was arrested and accused of smuggling drugs into one of the county jails.
—Keri Blakinger, Los Angeles Times, 8 Oct. 2024
See all Example Sentences for smuggle 
The Editors, National Review, 17 Oct. 2024
The fossil, which had likely been smuggled out of Brazil decades earlier, now sat at the heart of a growing storm over scientific ethics, national heritage and the dark underbelly of the fossil trade.
—Scott Travers, Forbes, 10 Oct. 2024
Federal officials allege that a seller used the platform to smuggle ancient Egyptian antiquities into the U.S.
A major shoplifting report has gone missing.
—Melvin Backman, Quartz, 10 Oct. 2024
In April, a sheriff’s deputy who was part of a task force focused on keeping Los Angeles County’s jails free of drugs and gang activity was arrested and accused of smuggling drugs into one of the county jails.
—Keri Blakinger, Los Angeles Times, 8 Oct. 2024
See all Example Sentences for smuggle
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'smuggle.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
Dictionary Entries Near smuggle
Cite this Entry
“Smuggle.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/smuggle. Accessed 4 Nov. 2024.
Copy CitationKids Definition
Legal Definition
smuggle
verb
smug·gle
ˈsmə-gəl
smuggled; smuggling
: to import or export secretly and illegally especially to avoid paying duties or to evade enforcement of laws
smuggle drugs
convicted of smuggling weapons
: to export or import something in violation of customs laws
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