as in alcohol
illegally produced liquor
getting caught with bootleg during Prohibition could have resulted in a jail sentence
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
as in unauthorized
made or sold illegally
During the Prohibition era, many people made their own bootleg whiskey. He was arrested for selling bootleg copies of the album.
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
as in to smuggle
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of bootleg
Scott Dochterman, The Athletic, 20 Jan. 2025
By 1990, bootleg versions of the book had washed up for sale in the pages of far-right magazines, peddled alongside sulfurous predictions of American concentration camps and a helpful who’s who of global elitists.
—Dan Piepenbring, Harper's Magazine, 19 Feb. 2025
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
Noun
That presents an opportunity for Iowa’s passing game to take another step in Lester’s Shanahan tree style of attack with more bootlegs and play-action passes.
—Scott Dochterman, The Athletic, 20 Jan. 2025
By 1990, bootleg versions of the book had washed up for sale in the pages of far-right magazines, peddled alongside sulfurous predictions of American concentration camps and a helpful who’s who of global elitists.
—Dan Piepenbring, Harper's Magazine, 19 Feb. 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
-
During another work trip, the source alleges, Gatto insisted his employees come back to his room to drink, despite publicly claiming to be sober in interviews (and frequently boasting that he’s never had a sip of alcohol before, per the source).—
Bailey Richards,
People.com,
23 Mar. 2025
-
Yet, with any colossal success, there can always be backlash, with some criticizing the higher alcohol levels.—
Cathrine Todd,
Forbes,
23 Mar. 2025
Adjective
-
Tariffs are a bargaining chip in Mr. Trump’s war on unauthorized immigration.—
Caitlin Babcock,
The Christian Science Monitor,
14 Mar. 2025
-
These updates introduce improved checks to prevent unauthorized actions caused by the vulnerability.—
Kurt Knutsson, CyberGuy Report,
Fox News,
14 Mar. 2025
Verb
-
The next day, Rendon made an agreement with Lomeli-Luna to smuggle more than 2 pounds of methamphetamine across the border, according to prosecutors.—
Alex Riggins,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
20 Mar. 2025
-
It had been written by a migrant who’d managed to smuggle a cellphone into the facility by hiding it in his shorts.—
Lomi Kriel,
ProPublica,
12 Mar. 2025
Noun
-
President Donald Trump’s 25% tariffs on Canada offended leaders there to the point that Ontario fired back by yanking American booze from store shelves.—
Matt Egan,
CNN,
13 Mar. 2025
-
Does Alex land in America on the same day that Spencer takes off from Galveston with a truckload of booze for the Italian mafia?—
Amanda Whiting,
Vulture,
9 Mar. 2025
Verb
-
The Red Room establishes an impressive, grand introduction to the store, and is gracefully merchandised with footwear on exquisite circular onyx tables.—
David Moin,
WWD,
3 Mar. 2025
-
More than a decade since its debut, the show continues to be shaped by merchandising opportunities.—
Alana Semuels,
TIME,
14 Feb. 2025
Noun
-
Yes, these fizzy drinks still contain some of the sweet stuff, but in relatively low amounts.—
Erica Sloan,
SELF,
18 Mar. 2025
-
On the menu, drinks can include Jubani, a drink made with coffee and the husk of coffee cherries, served with cardamom, ginger, cinnamon; and Mofawar, coffee served with cardamom and cream.—
Hira Qureshi,
Bon Appétit,
18 Mar. 2025
Verb
-
Amid the park’s ongoing renovations, which also means the spring run remains closed for swimming, the walkway leading to the spring head is fenced off but opens up for after-hours firefly viewing, a special treat for ticketed guests.—
Patrick Connolly,
Orlando Sentinel,
20 Mar. 2025
-
Years of recovery lie ahead for what’s left of Bidwell Mansion as the historic Chico estate remains fenced off and hollowed out nearly three months after being ravaged by flames.—
Jake Goodrick,
Sacramento Bee,
11 Mar. 2025
Noun
-
Arriving at a rustic log cabin, you’ll be greeted by a shot of moonshine dispensed by another cowboy, while a third strums his guitar and croons songs about life on the open range.—
Sophie-Claire Hoeller,
Vogue,
21 Mar. 2025
-
He was born to a Black mother, Annette Étienne, who worked as a street vendor selling cigarettes, charcoal, candy and moonshine, while raising eight children, and a white father, Benjamin Lyles, an American businessman who abandoned the family.—
Randal C. Archibold,
New York Times,
26 Feb. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Bootleg.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/bootleg. Accessed 28 Mar. 2025.
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