smuggler

noun

ˈsmə-glər How to pronounce smuggler (audio)
Definition of smugglernext
as in runner
a person who imports or exports goods secretly and illegally during Prohibition, smugglers of alcohol did a brisk business

Synonyms & Similar Words

Relevance

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 smuggler Prepon's next major role was as drug smuggler and love interest Alex Vause on Netflix's Orange Is the New Black. — Zoey Lyttle, PEOPLE, 21 June 2026 Sistan-Baluchistan, which borders Pakistan and Afghanistan, has long seen clashes between security forces, insurgents and drug smugglers. — Alex Sundby, CBS News, 30 June 2026 In other instances, Warrick said, there will be ghost carriers or fraudulent pickups of drivers or middlemen posing as legitimate transporters, but who are really smugglers. — Sasha Rogelberg, Fortune, 3 July 2026 For example, when Rhode Islanders complained about how the British ship Gaspee was attacking their ships without mercy in its hunt for smugglers, the Royal Navy waved away the colonial government. — Robert Parkinson, The Conversation, 24 June 2026 See All Example Sentences for smuggler
Recent Examples of Synonyms for smuggler
  1. runner
  2. courier
  3. bootlegger
  4. mule
Noun
  • The Dodgers went hitless with runners in scoring position, leaving the bases loaded in the first inning, two men on in the third and two more in the eighth.
    — Bill Shaikin, Los Angeles Times, 2 July 2026
  • The Royals had two runners aboard in the ninth, but couldn’t scratch a run across the plate.
    — Kansas City Star, Kansas City Star, 2 July 2026
Definition of runner
Noun
  • The story follows Kiki, a young witch who moves to the port city of Koriko with her cat Jiji and starts a flying courier service.
    — Andreas Wiseman, Deadline, 2 July 2026
  • Kroutsick initially gave him a job tending the kitchen fires but after a year, my father’s German was so good that Kroutsick promoted him to his courier and moved him into his villa on the slaughterhouse grounds.
    — Jason Prokowiew, PEOPLE, 1 July 2026
Definition of courier
Noun
  • Weeth said bootleggers purchase fireworks from manufacturers in China and who, for a fee, package the fireworks in colorful branding, which are more difficult to track and often lack proper warnings.
    — Joe Rubin, Sacbee.com, 4 July 2026
  • Working primarily in Indian Territory (present-day Oklahoma), Reeves tracked down murderers, thieves, bootleggers and other outlaws across a vast and often dangerous frontier.
    — Samantha Stutsman, PEOPLE, 6 June 2026
Definition of bootlegger
Noun
  • The same mule takes on a glossier finish in black and white patent leather, both priced at $895, while a bronze calf-leather iteration is listed at $935.
    — Maggie Clancy, Footwear News, 30 June 2026
  • These minimal mules go with everything and can be worn for many different occasions, giving you a lot of bang for your buck.
    — Cheryl Wagemann, InStyle, 23 June 2026
Definition of mule

Browse Nearby Words

smuggled
smuggler
smugglers
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Smuggler.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/smuggler. Accessed 7 Jul. 2026.

Copy Citation

More from Merriam-Webster on smuggler

Nglish: Translation of smuggler for Spanish Speakers

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!

Popular in Grammar & Usage

See More

Is that lie 'bald-faced' or 'bold-faced'?

'A' or 'an'? What about before 'h'? An Indefinite Article Guide

Why is '-ed' sometimes pronounced at the end of a word?

Commonly Misspelled Words

How to Use Em Dashes (—), En Dashes (–) , and Hyphens (-)
See More

Popular in Wordplay

See More

14 Phobias You Probably Haven't Heard Of

The Longest Long Words List

One-Word Oxymorons: Bittersweet, Spendthrift, and More

Ten Words Ending with a Silent ‘T’

12 Lovely and Unusual Words for the Natural World
See More

Popular

See More

Is that lie 'bald-faced' or 'bold-faced'?

14 Phobias You Probably Haven't Heard Of

The Longest Long Words List
See More

Games & Quizzes

See All
Play Quordle: Guess all four words in a limited number of tries. Each of your guesses must be a real 5-letter word.
Quordle Can you solve 4 words at once?
Play Blossom: Solve today's spelling word game by finding as many words as you can using just 7 letters. Longer words score more points.
Blossom Pick the best words!
Play Missing Letter: a crossword with a twist. Each of the 25 puzzle words start with a different letter of the alphabet. Which letter is missing?
The Missing Letter A daily crossword with a twist
hangman letters and game
Hangman Lightning Round Figure out which word fits in the blanks.
See All