peddle

verb

ped·​dle ˈpe-dᵊl How to pronounce peddle (audio)
peddled; peddling ˈped-liŋ How to pronounce peddle (audio)
ˈpe-dᵊl-iŋ

intransitive verb

1
: to travel about with wares for sale
broadly : sell
peddling without a license
2
: to be busy with trifles : piddle

transitive verb

1
: to sell or offer for sale from place to place : hawk
broadly : sell
They peddled fruits and vegetables from a truck on the side of the road.
2
: to deal out or seek to disseminate
peddling personal adviceG. F. Kennan
3
: to offer or promote as valuable
peddled snake oils and miracle lotions

Examples of peddle in a Sentence

They peddled fruits and vegetables out of their truck on the side of the road. He peddled his idea for a new movie to every executive in Hollywood. The mayor's aides tried to peddle his innocence to reporters.
Recent Examples on the Web
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.
The big picture: Social media platforms historically have removed these videos or suspended users that peddle lies about the outcome of the U.S. election. Sam Sabin, Axios, 5 Nov. 2024 An entire industry peddles parenting advice, books and paid workshops. Lynda Lin Grigsby, NBC News, 26 Oct. 2024 His enterprises, including Metric Media, are known among researchers for peddling misinformation and slanted coverage. Jennifer Smith Richards, ProPublica, 20 Oct. 2024 That six-episode series posited a theory about the people who are fueling the dangerous and delusional theories peddled under the moniker of QAnon. Cynthia Littleton, Variety, 19 Oct. 2024 See all Example Sentences for peddle 

Word History

Etymology

back-formation from peddler, from Middle English pedlere, alteration of pedder peddler

First Known Use

1532, in the meaning defined at intransitive sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of peddle was in 1532

Dictionary Entries Near peddle

Cite this Entry

“Peddle.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/peddle. Accessed 26 Nov. 2024.

Kids Definition

peddle

verb
ped·​dle ˈped-ᵊl How to pronounce peddle (audio)
peddled; peddling -liŋ How to pronounce peddle (audio)
-ᵊl-iŋ
1
: to travel about especially from house to house with goods for sale
2
: to sell from place to place usually in small quantities
3
: to present (something) in a manner that is intended to convince others of its value
peddled her opinion to her friends
peddler noun
also pedlar
ˈped-lər

More from Merriam-Webster on peddle

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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