as in dealing
to carry on the business of buying and selling goods or other property
arrested him for trafficking in drugs
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Recent Examples of trafficking
Police charged Wood with trafficking cocaine and distribution of a Class B drug (subsequent offense).
—
Colleen Cronin, Boston Herald, 20 May 2026
Americans are responding in a number of ways to these price increases, including a shift back to Big Box stores, eating out less and trafficking an increasing number of Dollar Stores (the modern day version of five and dimes with a higher price point).
—Dawn Thilmany, Forbes.com, 19 May 2026
But, according to the Department of Homeland Security, the majority of trafficking victims—seventy-seven per cent—are forced into labor.
—Yudhijit Bhattacharjee, New Yorker, 18 May 2026
Traffickers recruit young people, including minors, to serve as foot soldiers in their bloody quest to control drug-trafficking routes across Mexico.
—Steve Fisher, Los Angeles Times, 17 May 2026
Mosquera Serrano, who is also accused in the cocaine trafficking conspiracy, remains on the FBI’s Ten Most Wanted Fugitives list.
—Antonio María Delgado, Miami Herald, 15 May 2026
Kapri was previously arrested on May 6 on a felony charge of trafficking in MDMA.
—Daniel S. Levine, PEOPLE, 15 May 2026
In 2001, Coley was sentenced to 151 months in prison for trafficking crack cocaine, officials said.
—Justin Muszynski, Hartford Courant, 14 May 2026
That shop, owned by Laurence Gray, closed after Gray was indicted alongside a Tucson man in 2025 with firearms trafficking.
—Nick Penzenstadler, USA Today, 12 May 2026
Colleen Cronin, Boston Herald, 20 May 2026
Americans are responding in a number of ways to these price increases, including a shift back to Big Box stores, eating out less and trafficking an increasing number of Dollar Stores (the modern day version of five and dimes with a higher price point).
—Dawn Thilmany, Forbes.com, 19 May 2026
But, according to the Department of Homeland Security, the majority of trafficking victims—seventy-seven per cent—are forced into labor.
—Yudhijit Bhattacharjee, New Yorker, 18 May 2026
Traffickers recruit young people, including minors, to serve as foot soldiers in their bloody quest to control drug-trafficking routes across Mexico.
—Steve Fisher, Los Angeles Times, 17 May 2026
Mosquera Serrano, who is also accused in the cocaine trafficking conspiracy, remains on the FBI’s Ten Most Wanted Fugitives list.
—Antonio María Delgado, Miami Herald, 15 May 2026
Kapri was previously arrested on May 6 on a felony charge of trafficking in MDMA.
—Daniel S. Levine, PEOPLE, 15 May 2026
In 2001, Coley was sentenced to 151 months in prison for trafficking crack cocaine, officials said.
—Justin Muszynski, Hartford Courant, 14 May 2026
That shop, owned by Laurence Gray, closed after Gray was indicted alongside a Tucson man in 2025 with firearms trafficking.
—Nick Penzenstadler, USA Today, 12 May 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for trafficking
Verb
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After two period movies dealing very specifically with the history of Hungary, László Nemes returns to the subject matter than brought him an Oscar for his debut feature Son of Saul (2015) — the Second World War.—
Damon Wise,
Deadline,
18 May 2026
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The Audacity is better when dealing more sympathetically with teenagers like Tess, who’s grown tired of rebellion as the answer to her discontent.—
Scott Tobias,
Vulture,
17 May 2026
Verb
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Today’s wedge sandals feel markedly sleeker, trading bulk for minimalist lines, sculptural heels and refined proportions that elevate the once-divisive shoe into something far more polished.—
Lauren Fisher,
Footwear News,
17 May 2026
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The chipmaker is trading near all-time highs, with its market cap drawing near $6 trillion — a level no company has ever reached before.—
Sarah Min,
CNBC,
15 May 2026
Verb
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So yes, one very important achievement is that Hamas cannot really strengthen itself militarily, because Israel controls the Philadelphi Corridor, which prevents Hamas from smuggling weapons into Gaza.—
Isaac Chotiner,
New Yorker,
19 May 2026
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Last week, Bryant said investigators arrested Officer Javian Quintrell Blake, accusing him of buying phones and cigarettes and smuggling them into the jail for payment.—
Dan Raby,
CBS News,
18 May 2026
Verb
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In addition to his clairvoyant recruitment of head coach Eric Roy, who had not coached a club for more than 11 years before his appointment by Brest, Lorenzi enjoyed success at Stade Francis Le Ble by picking up players on the cheap and selling them on at significant profit.—
Tom Williams,
New York Times,
17 May 2026
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Jim waits 45 minutes after sending a trade alert before buying or selling a stock in his charitable trust's portfolio.—
Zev Fima,Kevin Stankiewicz,
CNBC,
17 May 2026
Cite this Entry
“Trafficking.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/trafficking. Accessed 22 May. 2026.
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