sneak thief

noun

Synonyms of sneak thief next

next

: a thief who steals whatever is readily available without using violence or forcibly breaking into buildings

Example Sentences

Recent Examples on the Web Jake Gyllenhaal lost 20 pounds to play Louis Bloom, the ghoulish sneak thief-turned-freelance crime scene journalist, in this alternately gripping and skin-crawling drama. —

Dennis Perkins, EW.com, 2 Aug. 2022

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'sneak thief.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

Word History

First Known Use

circa 1859, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler

The first known use of sneak thief was circa 1859

See more words from the same year

Cite this Entry

Style

“Sneak thief.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/sneak%20thief. Accessed 4 Feb. 2023.

Copy Citation

Word of the Day

scrutinize

Listen to the pronunciation of scrutinize

See Definitions and Examples »

Get Word of the Day daily email!

Test Your Vocabulary

Fashionable Words

Which of these items is named for a deadly weapon?

Test your knowledge - and maybe learn something along the way.

TAKE THE QUIZ

Solve today's spelling word game by finding as many words as you can with using just 7 letters. Longer words score more points.

Can you make 12 words with 7 letters?

PLAY