bootleg 1 of 3

as in alcohol
illegally produced liquor getting caught with bootleg during Prohibition could have resulted in a jail sentence

Synonyms & Similar Words

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bootleg

2 of 3

adjective

bootleg

3 of 3

verb

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 bootleg
Noun
The first thing that struck them was the white leader tape on the record, an extra measure of care to create separation between songs—which would have been atypical for a bootleg. Eli Wizevich, Smithsonian Magazine, 4 Apr. 2025 The gang specialized in hijacking cars and guarding bootleg liquor shipments for other hoodlums during the Prohibition era. Miami Herald Archives, Miami Herald, 3 Apr. 2025
Verb
This was the era of Prohibition, dominated by bootlegging gangsters—Chicago alone was said to be home to 1,300 gangs—and some police departments adopted increasingly brutal tactics to wring the truth out of suspects: beating and burning detainees with cigarettes, or depriving them of sleep. Susan Saulny, Smithsonian Magazine, 22 Oct. 2024 Land of the Free, Home of the Bootleggers When technology made music mobile, the American South changed from one type of bootlegging industry to another: copying and selling records. JSTOR Daily, 24 June 2024 See All Example Sentences for bootleg
Recent Examples of Synonyms for bootleg
Noun
  • The post did criticize survey questions about people's internet usage at home and alcohol consumption.
    Hansi Lo Wang, NPR, 23 May 2025
  • And unlike some wellness resorts around the world which restrict caloric intake, caffeine and alcohol consumption, this isn’t the case at Miraval.
    Rana Good, Forbes.com, 22 May 2025
Adjective
  • In the absence of automation to oversee these applications, IT and security teams must manually detect and respond to threats posed by unauthorized AI tools.
    Maria Williams, USA Today, 24 May 2025
  • The settlement signed on Friday between Prospect and the state of Connecticut concludes an ongoing state investigation into unauthorized service cuts at Rockville launched in October of last year.
    Katy Golvala, Hartford Courant, 24 May 2025
Verb
  • Ukraine's Security Service smuggled first-person view drones laden with small explosives onto trucks driven deep into Russia.
    Charles Maynes, NPR, 2 June 2025
  • The man tried to smuggle the 17 exotic birds on May 4 via the San Ysidro Port of Entry in San Diego, according to a complaint filed in federal court.
    Sara Schilling, Sacbee.com, 21 May 2025
Noun
  • For the dad who’s trying to cut back on booze a bit: St. Agrestis Negroni Fountain St. Agrestis Negroni Fountain $60 Stagrestis The makers of the bottled nonalcoholic Phony Negroni offer this bulk version that contains 20 servings of the classic bitter-and-bright beverage without any ABV.
    Adam Campbell-Schmitt, Bon Appetit Magazine, 20 May 2025
  • After the show, there's booze, girls, and hotel suites, but Abel's locked in the bathroom, being sad.
    Jordan Hoffman, EW.com, 15 May 2025
Verb
  • The company helps speed up product development and design conceptualization as internal teams collaborate more efficiently to visualize, iterate and test marketing campaigns, product assortments and merchandising assets like lookbooks and ecommerce content.
    Sharon Edelson, Forbes.com, 27 Mar. 2025
  • The Russo brothers, meanwhile, are known for their past accomplishments with transforming movies into merchandising opportunities.
    Shirley Li, The Atlantic, 19 Mar. 2025
Noun
  • Pouring shots into people’s mouths and mixing up well drinks brought some good emotions to surface.
    Larisha Paul, Rolling Stone, 29 May 2025
  • These new drink offerings come as the coffee chain cut several Frappuccinos and other drinks from its menu back in March.
    Gabe Hauari, USA Today, 29 May 2025
Verb
  • The site is now cleared of the debris, has a 24-hour camera in place to monitor the property, and is fenced off to discourage homeless camping.
    George Avalos, Mercury News, 22 May 2025
  • Turner took a knee and refused to fence against a transgender competitor.
    Fox News Staff, FOXNews.com, 16 Apr. 2025
Noun
  • Its moonshine is made of 100% corn.
    Megan Ulu-Lani Boyanton, The Denver Post, 30 Dec. 2024
  • The free gift appears to be an Uzi, some ammo, a helmet, armour and a bottle of moonshine, which certainly isn’t a bad collection of loot for free.
    Mike Stubbs, Forbes, 14 Oct. 2024

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Cite this Entry

“Bootleg.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/bootleg. Accessed 7 Jun. 2025.

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