The customs agent searched Tom for contraband.
Source: tatoeba (5293325)
Contraband
/ˈkɑn.tɹəˌbænd/
Synonyms for "contraband" (133 found)
Ranked by relevance and common usage.
Closest matches (27)
actionableagainst the lawanarchicanarchisticanomicbanbannedbarredblack marketblack-marketbootlegbootleg liquorbootychargeablecigarette smugglingcigarettescontrabandagecontrary to lawcriminaldenial
Show 3 more words
Adjective(3 words)
Noun(1 words)
contraband of war
Strong matches (40)
dope smugglingdrugseighteenth amendmentembargoexcludedexclusionfeloniousflawedforbadeforbidforbiddanceforbiddenforbidden fruitforbiddinggunrunninghothot goodsillegalillegitimateillicit
Show 15 more words
impermissibleindexindex expurgatoriusindex librorum prohibitoruminhibitioninjunctioninterdictinterdictioninterdictumirregularjewel smugglingjewelsjusticiablelawlawless
Related words (66)
Noun(4 words)
narcoticsnarcotics smugglingno nono-nononconstitutionalnonlegalnonlicitnonpermissiblenot permittedoff limitsout of boundsoutlawoutlawedpreclusionpreventionprohibitedprohibitionprohibition partyprohibitory injunctionproscribed
Show 41 more words
proscriptionpunishablerefusalrejectionrepressionrestrictive covenantsruled outruling outrumrunningrunshut outsmuggled goodssmugglingstatutestolen goodssumptuary lawssuppressiontabootabooedtriableunallowedunauthorizedunconstitutionalunder the banunder-the-counterunder-the-tableunlawfulunlicensedunofficialunpermissibleunsanctionedunstatutoryuntouchableunwarrantableunwarrantedverbotenvetoedvolstead actwrongfulzoningzoning laws
Adjective(1 words)
Choosing the right synonym
- Closest matches in this entry: actionable, against the law, anarchic, anarchistic, anomic.
- Sentence evidence is available for contraband, so synonym choice can be checked against real usage rather than a flat word list.
- Ranking signals come from moby, wordnet, derived_reverse, opengloss, and related lexical sources.
Synonym selection checklist
- Match the part of speech before comparing meanings.
- Check whether the synonym changes intensity, formality, or emotional tone.
- Read the replacement inside the full sentence, not just beside "contraband".
- Prefer the clearest word over the most unusual word when writing for speed or comprehension.
When not to replace "contraband"
Keep "contraband" when the sentence already sounds natural, when a synonym would add unintended emphasis, or when readers need the most familiar wording. A synonym should clarify or sharpen the message, not simply make the sentence look more varied.
If two options seem close, choose the one that best matches the audience and purpose of the sentence.
Replacement workflow
1. Preserve meaning
Choose a synonym only if it keeps the core idea of "contraband" intact in the sentence you are editing.
2. Tune tone
Check whether the replacement sounds more formal, casual, emotional, technical, or forceful than the original word.
3. Re-read context
Read the full sentence after the swap. Keep the synonym only when the sentence becomes clearer or more precise.
Review note: Synonym lists are ranked with lexical data and reviewed for practical writing value. Use the comparison notes, sentence evidence, and source labels together; a high-ranking synonym can still be wrong when the audience, register, or grammar changes.
Final fit check
After choosing a replacement for "contraband", read the sentence once for meaning and once for rhythm. The best synonym should feel natural in the full sentence, not only accurate in a word list.
If the synonym makes the sentence slower, vaguer, or more dramatic than intended, keep "contraband" or choose a simpler alternative from the closest-match group.
Related word relations
OpenGloss and ConceptNet supply richer edges like generalizations, collocations, and derivations.
More general
6 entriesMore specific
8 entriesCollocations
9 entriescontraband cigarettescontraband detectioncontraband goodscontraband listcontraband marketcontraband of warcontraband seizurecontraband tobaccocontraband trade
Inflections
4 entriesDerivations
1 entriessimilar
1 entriesSample sentences
16 total sentences available.
Tom should have known that bringing contraband into the country would surely involve him with the wrong sort of people.
Source: tatoeba (5323880)
Contraband may be confiscated.
Source: tatoeba (5733204)
Don't fear! This way he certainly won't think that you've brought any contraband, and won't cause a holdup by checking over your luggage.
Source: tatoeba (6276623)
Showing 4 of 16 available sentences.
Common questions
What are the closest synonyms for "contraband"?
Closest matches include actionable, against the law, anarchic, anarchistic, anomic.
How should I check whether a synonym fits "contraband"?
Compare the replacement against real sentence context. This entry includes sample sentences so you can check tone, grammar, and meaning before swapping words.