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
Khan successfully smuggled information, photos, blueprints, and even components of the centrifuges to the Pakistan embassy in the Netherlanda before successfully escaping to lead the program.
—
Davis Winkie, USA Today, 8 May 2025
The woman allegedly smuggled ballots under her shirt and switched vehicles to avoid detection.
—Gabe Whisnant, MSNBC Newsweek, 7 May 2025
In the past two years, authorities have busted several attempts to smuggle weapons and explosives into the kingdom from neighboring Syria and Iraq.
—Taylor Luck, Christian Science Monitor, 30 Apr. 2025
Earlier this year, the Coast Guard cutter Waesche offloaded more than 37,000 pounds of cocaine seized from smuggling boats off the coasts of Mexico, Central America and South America between December and February.
—Emily Mae Czachor, CBS News, 29 Apr. 2025
See All Example Sentences for smuggle
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Davis Winkie, USA Today, 8 May 2025
The woman allegedly smuggled ballots under her shirt and switched vehicles to avoid detection.
—Gabe Whisnant, MSNBC Newsweek, 7 May 2025
In the past two years, authorities have busted several attempts to smuggle weapons and explosives into the kingdom from neighboring Syria and Iraq.
—Taylor Luck, Christian Science Monitor, 30 Apr. 2025
Earlier this year, the Coast Guard cutter Waesche offloaded more than 37,000 pounds of cocaine seized from smuggling boats off the coasts of Mexico, Central America and South America between December and February.
—Emily Mae Czachor, CBS News, 29 Apr. 2025
See All Example Sentences for smuggle
Cite this Entry
“Smuggle.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/smuggle. Accessed 19 May. 2025.
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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