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
show current usage.
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Recent Examples of bootleg
Chris Willman, Variety, 4 Feb. 2026
The Chargers did not incorporate enough play-action bootleg into their offense over the last two years.
—Daniel Popper, New York Times, 26 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
While bootlegs have been out there for decades, the Petty estate is finally making the concert officially available, with audio restoration done by Ryan Ulyate.
—Chris Willman, Variety, 4 Feb. 2026
The Chargers did not incorporate enough play-action bootleg into their offense over the last two years.
—Daniel Popper, New York Times, 26 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
-
Noel was arrested and charged with hit-and-run with property damage, driving while impaired, driving with no liability insurance, and driving with an open container of alcohol, officials said.—
Mark Price
April 1,
Charlotte Observer,
1 Apr. 2026
-
Avoid caffeine, alcohol, and other stimulants before bed.—
Heather Jones,
Verywell Health,
1 Apr. 2026
Adjective
-
This can include help to contact creditors, placing fraud alerts, disputing unauthorized accounts and preparing documentation to recover your identity.—
Kurt Knutsson,
FOXNews.com,
2 Apr. 2026
-
Peters, 70, is serving time for election interference for allowing unauthorized access to voting machines following the 2020 presidential election.—
Jesse Sarles,
CBS News,
2 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
At times, people also rely on kolbars to smuggle themselves across the border.—
ABC News,
ABC News,
30 Mar. 2026
-
Data shows a similar drop in overdose deaths in Canada, where fentanyl supplies are usually produced from Chinese chemicals inside the country rather than smuggled in.—
Kaitlin Coward,
Boston Herald,
27 Mar. 2026
Noun
-
That said, many frequent fliers have found ways to give their beverage a boost and even score free booze in economy seats.—
Joey Skladany,
Travel + Leisure,
2 Apr. 2026
-
Keep the booze flowing at White Stadium during professional women’s soccer matches, the Boston City Council said when rejecting a measure that sought to uphold state law restricting alcohol at public school facilities.—
Gayla Cawley,
Boston Herald,
25 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
It’s all curated by owner Sylvie Chateigner, who has methodically merchandised the store by color.—
Clara Giampellegrini,
Vogue,
26 Mar. 2026
-
The store’s inventory will come from local closets and be merchandised around upcoming events including Ultra (March 27-29), the Miami Open (through March 29), Formula 1 (May 1-3) and Swim Week (May 25-June 1).—
Howard Cohen,
Miami Herald,
24 Mar. 2026
Noun
-
According to the brand, the 40-ounce bottle keeps drinks cold for up to 34 hours and hot for up to 12 hours.—
Izzy Baskette,
PEOPLE,
2 Apr. 2026
-
Fresh mint and crushed ice combine with the spirit in a drink that radiates spring.—
Shilpa Uskokovic,
Bon Appetit Magazine,
2 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
On a recent morning, birds chirped and hopped from tree to tree under a clear blue morning sky as a man in a respirator and protective earmuffs worked on what remained of Vazquez’s property, which was fenced off from the street.—
Fedor Zarkhin,
Los Angeles Times,
1 Apr. 2026
-
Now, with these resources fenced off, commoners had to till someone else’s land for a wage.—
Will Glovinsky,
The Conversation,
30 Mar. 2026
Noun
-
The other spirits, including the moonshine, can be found at websites like Total Wine now.—
Jonah Flicker,
Robb Report,
20 Feb. 2026
-
Fans in southern Ohio and northern Kentucky haven’t been this excited since the invention of moonshine.—
Kevin Cusick,
Twin Cities,
5 Dec. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Bootleg.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/bootleg. Accessed 5 Apr. 2026.
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