peddle

verb

ped·​dle ˈpe-dᵊl 

peddled; peddling ˈped-liŋ 

ˈpe-dᵊl-iŋ

intransitive verb

1

: to travel about with wares for sale

broadly : sell

peddling without a license

2

: to be busy with trifles : piddle

transitive verb

1

: to sell or offer for sale from place to place : hawk

broadly : sell

They peddled fruits and vegetables from a truck on the side of the road.

2

: to deal out or seek to disseminate

peddling personal advice

—G. F. Kennan

3

: to offer or promote as valuable

peddled snake oils and miracle lotions

Synonyms

• hawk

Examples of peddle in a Sentence

They peddled fruits and vegetables out of their truck on the side of the road.

He peddled his idea for a new movie to every executive in Hollywood.

The mayor's aides tried to peddle his innocence to reporters.

Recent Examples on the Web

Sometimes, these manosphere creators who peddle misogynistic beliefs are making money off their posts, monetizing off shock factor and clicks. —Sam Woodward, USA Today, 19 Apr. 2025

Here’s how to protect yourself Investing in uncertain times: Here’s what investors should know Private equity wants a larger piece of workplace retirement plan assets Debt glorification is not the only bad advice being peddled on the internet. —Sheila Bair, Former Chair Of The Fdic, CNBC, 11 Apr. 2025

The middleman then, in turn, peddles these to different factories at a higher price that leaves him a comfortable cut. —Jasmin Malik Chua, Sourcing Journal, 4 Apr. 2025

During the cabinet meeting, Netanyahu's aides briefed reporters and peddled a conspiracy theory that has been popular among the prime minister supporters since the beginning of the war: that Bar knew of the Oct. 7 attack hours in advance but didn't wake up Netanyahu to alert him. —Barak Ravid, Axios, 21 Mar. 2025

Word History

Etymology

back-formation from peddler, from Middle English pedlere, alteration of pedder peddler

First Known Use

1532, in the meaning defined at intransitive sense 1

Phrases Containing peddle

• peddle one's wares

Rhymes for peddle

• bedell
• heddle
• medal
• meddle
• pedal
• wedel
• bipedal
• intermeddle

Kids Definition

peddle

verb

ped·​dle ˈped-ᵊl 

peddled; peddling -liŋ 

-ᵊl-iŋ

1

: to travel about especially from house to house with goods for sale

2

: to sell from place to place usually in small quantities

3

: to present (something) in a manner that is intended to convince others of its value

peddled her opinion to her friends

peddler noun

also pedlar

ˈped-lər