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
Ian Servantes, Footwear News, 11 Dec. 2025
But for a few months in 1975, all four members worked in unison to create a masterpiece and perform concerts that became legendary, thanks to bootlegs like the one here.
—Kory Grow, Rolling Stone, 11 Dec. 2025
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
The prospect of Staple reuniting with Nike is complicated by another bootleg controversy from his past.
—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.
—Recent Examples of Synonyms for bootleg
Noun
-
The goal here is to convert the organic compound n-butanol into 1,4 butanediol, a bivalent alcohol and important raw material for plastics.—
-
The driver of the truck, a 40-year-old man, was not hurt and will be subject to drug and alcohol testing, which police say is standard procedure.—
Adjective
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But those state actions are now unauthorized because of the Supreme Court order, the USDA wrote in guidance released on Saturday.—
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The somber discussion followed discussions surrounding poor internal controls that have resulted in tens of millions of dollars spent on unauthorized contracts and unbudgeted expenses.—
Verb
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Once the code was given, Wedding’s associates would hand over a shipment of cocaine — up to 350 kilos per run — which the truckers would then smuggle into Canada.—
-
Starlink terminals are known to have been smuggled into Iran during the last large round of protests in 2022 and 2023.—
Noun
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The cocktail menu includes four non-alcoholic drinks, including a booze-free Old Fashioned and a margarita.—
-
The Bohemian waxwing even takes its name from its notorious penchant for booze.—
Verb
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Sir Arthur has a major online presence, with 87,000 followers on his TikTok account, and even merchandise dedicated to him.—
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In February, the Corner Shop will be merchandised for Valentine’s Day.—
Noun
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There are plenty of dining options in cities surrounding the Everglades—Miami, Naples, and Homestead—but most visitors bring their own food and drinks into the park.—
-
The restaurant is busy preparing for a big night of food and drinks, and is no longer accepting reservations due to high demand, instead going with a first-come-first-served policy.—
Verb
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Both sites have since deteriorated into eyesore properties and remain boarded and fenced following break-ins, loitering and other types of code violations.—
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For total protection, erect metal or polypropylene deer fencing around the plant to prevent them from entering.—
Noun
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Fans in southern Ohio and northern Kentucky haven’t been this excited since the invention of moonshine.—
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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.—
Cite this Entry
“Bootleg.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/bootleg. Accessed 13 Jan. 2026.
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