as in buccaneers
someone who engages in robbery of ships at sea
Sir Francis Drake was a British pirate who preyed on Spanish ships with the connivance of Elizabeth I
Synonyms & Similar Words
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as in seizes
to take or make use of under a guise of authority but without actual right
using pirated software that was subject to copyright
Synonyms & Similar Words
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of pirates
Literary Hub, 9 Oct. 2025
For Larissa Knapp, a 27-year FBI veteran who was hired by an entertainment trade group last year to bolster ACE’s work hunting pirates, the timing could hardly have been better.
—Jacob Feldman, Sportico.com, 6 Oct. 2025
On the other hand, there was also the concept of reading and how to integrate that in the story, how the pirates learn to read, and how words go together.
—Rafa Sales Ross, Variety, 20 Sep. 2025
Leaders in the Ming dynasty (1368–1644) focused on combating pirates and handling trade across the strait as Chinese settlers increasingly moved to the island.
—David C. Kang, Foreign Affairs, 19 Sep. 2025
The structure is similar to how pirates and privateers once attacked foreign enemies at sea on behalf of their government.
—Rick Bennett, Time, 17 Sep. 2025
Stevenson’s pirates are a frighteningly murderous and totally untrustworthy bunch, thriving on threats and duplicity.
—Rob Hubbard, Twin Cities, 15 Sep. 2025
What two letters are favorites of pirates?
—Richard Lederer, San Diego Union-Tribune, 13 Sep. 2025
For decades, the characters in science-fiction movies and TV shows who traveled on spaceships tended to be scientists, explorers, diplomats, soldiers, and pirates.
—Noel Murray, Vulture, 3 Sep. 2025
Noun
In the Tatsuya Nagamine movie, Z is the name of an admiral who has sworn to destroy all the pirates of the New World, because of the pirates’ dream to have no leader, motivated only by their alliances that uphold the interests of every person and community.
—Literary Hub, 9 Oct. 2025
For Larissa Knapp, a 27-year FBI veteran who was hired by an entertainment trade group last year to bolster ACE’s work hunting pirates, the timing could hardly have been better.
—Jacob Feldman, Sportico.com, 6 Oct. 2025
On the other hand, there was also the concept of reading and how to integrate that in the story, how the pirates learn to read, and how words go together.
—Rafa Sales Ross, Variety, 20 Sep. 2025
Leaders in the Ming dynasty (1368–1644) focused on combating pirates and handling trade across the strait as Chinese settlers increasingly moved to the island.
—David C. Kang, Foreign Affairs, 19 Sep. 2025
The structure is similar to how pirates and privateers once attacked foreign enemies at sea on behalf of their government.
—Rick Bennett, Time, 17 Sep. 2025
Stevenson’s pirates are a frighteningly murderous and totally untrustworthy bunch, thriving on threats and duplicity.
—Rob Hubbard, Twin Cities, 15 Sep. 2025
What two letters are favorites of pirates?
—Richard Lederer, San Diego Union-Tribune, 13 Sep. 2025
For decades, the characters in science-fiction movies and TV shows who traveled on spaceships tended to be scientists, explorers, diplomats, soldiers, and pirates.
—Noel Murray, Vulture, 3 Sep. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for pirates
Noun
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The conference curated a world of coming wonders for several hundred C-suite buccaneers who had paid up to fifty thousand dollars apiece to update their mental models and investment portfolios.—
Tad Friend,
New Yorker,
4 Aug. 2025
Verb
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Continue reading … DRUG WAR VICTORY – Task force seizes enough cocaine 'to kill every American' in record efforts.—
,
FOXNews.com,
30 Sep. 2025
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Against her will, Fadia becomes trapped in an asylum while her cousin seizes her inheritance, depriving her of even her right to grieve.—
Jenny S. Li,
Variety,
21 Sep. 2025
Verb
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The woman — a US citizen, according to the Department of Homeland Security — had rammed her car into a federal law enforcement vehicle, the complaint claims.—
Karina Tsui,
CNN Money,
5 Oct. 2025
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Neutrogena Triple Age Repair Face Moisturizer The Triple Age Repair Moisturizer claims to deliver a noticeable difference within four weeks, but many shoppers saw results even sooner.—
Caley Sturgill,
Southern Living,
5 Oct. 2025
Noun
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Set in 1492, the series follows Sara, the defiant daughter of Granada’s chief Rabbi, exiled during Spain’s expulsion of its Jewish population and captured by Ottoman corsairs (‘Korsan’ in Turkish).—
Ben Croll,
Variety,
29 Sep. 2025
Verb
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Carol steals him away first and is so awkward and confused as to how to flirt.—
Ali Barthwell,
Vulture,
2 Oct. 2025
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But as in most of his roles since The Departed and The Fighter, Wahlberg shows little charisma, particularly when he’s flanked by an actor with the irreverent verve of LaKeith Stanfield, who steals every scene without even breaking a sweat.—
David Rooney,
HollywoodReporter,
30 Sep. 2025
Noun
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Its namesake, cattleman Oliver Loving, was shot by a band of raiders during a cattle drive in 1866, and died of shock a few days later after a doctor didn’t amputate his gangrenous arm.—
Mitch Moxley,
Rolling Stone,
27 Sep. 2025
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All of them have been broken into by raiders over the centuries, their walls smashed or lids prised off despite once being locked shut with metal clasps.—
Barry Neild,
CNN Money,
23 Sep. 2025
Verb
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Each of the casitas at Los Milics has a living room that converts to a bedroom.—
Richard Ruelas,
AZCentral.com,
4 Oct. 2025
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Taiwan converts time into a weapon by turning drones into throughput problems, from design to fab to field to refresh.—
Kapil Kajal,
Interesting Engineering,
1 Oct. 2025
Verb
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But Henry grabs Julia at the last moment and presses all of their hands to the stones at once.—
Maureen Lee Lenker,
Entertainment Weekly,
11 Oct. 2025
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Viral video of the incident shows Eilish leaving the stage and exchanging high-fives with fans when someone grabs her arm and tires to yank her into the crowd.—
Jon Blistein,
Rolling Stone,
10 Oct. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Pirates.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/pirates. Accessed 12 Oct. 2025.
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