peddle

[ped-l]

verb (used with object)

peddled, peddling 

1. to carry (small articles, goods, wares, etc.) from place to place for sale at retail; hawk.

2. to deal out, distribute, or dispense, especially in small quantities.

   to peddle radical ideas.

3. to sell (drugs) illicitly.

verb (used without object)

peddled, peddling 

1. to go from place to place with goods, wares, etc., for sale at retail.

2. to occupy oneself with trifles; trifle.

peddle

/ ˈpɛdəl /

verb

1. to go from place to place selling (goods, esp small articles)

2. (tr) to sell (illegal drugs, esp narcotics)

3. (tr) to advocate (ideas) persistently or importunately

   to peddle a new philosophy

4. archaic,  (intr) to trifle

Other Word Forms

• repeddle verb (used with object)
• unpeddled adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of peddle¹

First recorded in 1525–35; apparently back formation from peddler; peddle in def. 5, reinforced by piddle

Word History and Origins

Origin of peddle¹

C16: back formation from _pedlar

Example Sentences

In a 2005 speech, he called the Democrats who accused the administration of manipulating intelligence to justify the war “opportunists” who peddled “cynical and pernicious falsehoods” to gain political advantage.

Read more on Los Angeles Times

“There’s a false and extremely dangerous narrative being peddled,” Wiener said in an August news conference.

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"Whatever falsehoods they push, whatever easy answers they peddle, however willing they are to tear communities and families apart, they are not on the side of working people."

Read more on BBC

She said the Lib Dems had to combat "climate myths" about renewable energy driving up prices she said were peddled by Reform UK and the Conservatives.

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As it turns out, many of the links to the alleged “hoax” debunkings — “peddled by the usual suspects” like liberals and the mainstream media, it said — didn’t actually debunk the charges at all.

Read more on Salon

Related Words

• hawk 
• solicit