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.
Related Words
Dissimilar Words
as in to smuggle
Related Words
Dissimilar Words
Example Sentences
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
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Recent Examples of bootleg
Andrew Greif, NBC news, 26 Jan. 2026
One of their few tendencies was playing from a five-man front on early downs and playing man coverage behind it, a way to force an overmatched O-line to block 1-on-1 and combat the Texans' bootleg play-action passes.
—Andrew Callahan, Boston Herald, 20 Jan. 2026
Al Shipley, SPIN, 25 Dec. 2024
The quarterback can bootleg in and out of the perimeter of cameras, as the testing aims to simulate as many football movements as possible.
—Jourdan Rodrigue, The Athletic, 27 Aug. 2024
See All Example Sentences for bootleg
Noun
Two plays after that, on second and 7, Fox broadcaster Tom Brady expressed surprise that Seattle was putting the ball in Darnold's hands to pass on a bootleg play rather than run the ball, to try to run out the clock.
—Andrew Greif, NBC news, 26 Jan. 2026
One of their few tendencies was playing from a five-man front on early downs and playing man coverage behind it, a way to force an overmatched O-line to block 1-on-1 and combat the Texans' bootleg play-action passes.
—Andrew Callahan, Boston Herald, 20 Jan. 2026
Verb
Living in Woodstock, New York, Dylan spent a lot of time in nearby Saugerties at the Band’s famous Big Pink house, recording dozens of songs that were heavily bootlegged and sometimes sent to other artists to record.
—Al Shipley, SPIN, 25 Dec. 2024
The quarterback can bootleg in and out of the perimeter of cameras, as the testing aims to simulate as many football movements as possible.
—Jourdan Rodrigue, The Athletic, 27 Aug. 2024
See All Example Sentences for bootleg
Recent Examples of Synonyms for bootleg
Noun
-
Paris Reuters — French wine and spirits exports fell last year to their lowest volume in at least 25 years as US tariffs and Chinese duties hit sales and a strong euro made some alcohol more expensive, industry group FEVS said on Tuesday, warning of no imminent relief.—
Reuters 9 hr ago,
CNN Money,
11 Feb. 2026
-
Her next goal is to create sugar-free mocktails for her restaurants, as GLP-1s can make alcohol less appealing.—
Allyson Reedy,
Denver Post,
11 Feb. 2026
Adjective
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Meanwhile, both Ukrainian and Russian military bloggers reported that unauthorized Starlink satellite communications terminals in use by Russian forces had been disrupted or disconnected, following a public appeal by Kyiv to Starlink producer SpaceX and its owner Elon Musk.—
David Brennan,
ABC News,
5 Feb. 2026
-
Earn 1% cash back on all other purchases With Zero Liability you won't be held responsible for unauthorized charges made with your card or account information.—
Ryley Amond,
CNBC,
4 Feb. 2026
Verb
-
It’s not meant to smuggle in unrelated provisions that expand the power of leadership at the expense of our members.—
Rachel Schilke,
The Washington Examiner,
11 Feb. 2026
-
In fall 2023, the Sheriff’s Office investigated a spate of overdose inmate deaths, then arrested several staffers tied to Avid Healthcare Services, a health care contractor, for smuggling drugs into the jail in exchange for money.—
Theresa Clift,
Sacbee.com,
10 Feb. 2026
Noun
-
On top of all that, many ski town culinary hotspots have fantastic zero-proof cocktail offerings, including James Beard winner Matt Vawter’s Rootstalk in Breckenridge, where an expansive menu includes a booze-free Old Fashioned, seasonal shrubs and mocktails, and non-alcoholic cider, beer and wine.—
Brittany Anas,
Denver Post,
6 Feb. 2026
-
Experts also point to fatty, salty food and booze.—
Marc Ramirez,
USA Today,
6 Feb. 2026
Verb
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The rights to his image are managed by CMG Worldwide, which specializes in celebrities merchandising.—
Paul Flahive,
Austin American Statesman,
30 Jan. 2026
-
No matter how they're merchandised, take notice of these home staples.—
Jennifer Prince,
Southern Living,
10 Jan. 2026
Noun
-
Order a drink while reading a book under a chic and shady cabana.—
Diana Oates,
Condé Nast Traveler,
5 Feb. 2026
-
In a video shared on X by a fan account, the 36-year-old is seen chatting with some pals while sipping a drink.—
Christina Perrier,
InStyle,
5 Feb. 2026
Verb
-
In the year since the property has been vacant, and fenced off, 27 fires have gutted or scorched empty units, located between Truman Road and 18th Street, Woodland and Brooklyn avenues.—
Eric Adler,
Kansas City Star,
4 Feb. 2026
-
Alternative plans to control the island's mule deer population included fencing them in, relocating the deer, introducing predators and sterilization.—
Julie Sharp,
CBS News,
2 Feb. 2026
Noun
-
Fans in southern Ohio and northern Kentucky haven’t been this excited since the invention of moonshine.—
Kevin Cusick,
Twin Cities,
5 Dec. 2025
-
In his office at Charlotte Motor Speedway, Wheeler kept several jars of brownish-red homemade moonshine that were natural conversation pieces when the talk turned to NASCAR’s roots.—
Scott Fowler,
Charlotte Observer,
21 Aug. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Bootleg.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/bootleg. Accessed 14 Feb. 2026.
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