thief

noun

plural thieves ˈthēvz How to pronounce thief (audio)
Synonyms of thiefnext
: one that steals especially stealthily or secretly
also : one who commits theft or larceny

Examples of thief in a Sentence

A thief took my purse. a thief has been stealing wallets and valuables from the lockers at the gym
Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
The sophomore season, now streaming with new episodes released every Friday, finds Andrew Cooper (Hamm) doubling down on his life as an unlikely suburban thief, until the arrival of a new neighbor threatens to expose his secrets and place his family at risk. Nellie Andreeva, Deadline, 14 Apr. 2026 He was involved in petty crimes as a teenager and became a drug dealer and leader of a gang of thieves in New York City. Tracy Grant, Encyclopedia Britannica, 14 Apr. 2026 After enduring years of thieves stealing headstones, the owner of a Compton cemetery decided to sell the property after a person stabbed her three dogs on Friday. Nicole Comstock, CBS News, 12 Apr. 2026 In that heist, thieves made off with $102 million worth of jewels and escaped via a cherry picker, with a global manhunt ensuing. Leigh Anne Miller, ARTnews.com, 10 Apr. 2026 See All Example Sentences for thief

Word History

Etymology

Middle English theef, from Old English thēof; akin to Old High German diob thief

First Known Use

before the 12th century, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of thief was before the 12th century

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Thief.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/thief. Accessed 17 Apr. 2026.

Kids Definition

thief

noun
plural thieves ˈthēvz How to pronounce thief (audio)
: one that steals

Legal Definition

thief

noun
plural thieves
: one who commits theft
Etymology

Old English thēof

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