as in pirate
a criminal who attacks and steals from travelers and who is often a member of a group of criminals
They were two of the most famous bandits of the 19th century.
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Recent Examples of bandit
The latter seemed to be a proud vindication of corridos, a style that’s been increasingly under scrutiny in música mexicana because of its tradition of name-checking outlaws, bandits, and cartel leaders.
—
Julyssa Lopez, Rolling Stone, 14 Mar. 2026
Police arrested one of four snowball bandits caught on camera clobbering the cops with snow.
—Leonard Greene, New York Daily News, 28 Feb. 2026
These proposals reflect hardening congressional sentiment toward Abuja at a moment when jihadist and bandit violence has impacted millions across the region.
—Adrian Elimian, semafor.com, 25 Feb. 2026
Traditional western dramas were more likely to depict vaqueros as bandits than hard-working ranch hands whose contributions were fundamental to the American West.
—Foreign Correspondent, Los Angeles Times, 23 Feb. 2026
See All Example Sentences for bandit
Julyssa Lopez, Rolling Stone, 14 Mar. 2026
Police arrested one of four snowball bandits caught on camera clobbering the cops with snow.
—Leonard Greene, New York Daily News, 28 Feb. 2026
These proposals reflect hardening congressional sentiment toward Abuja at a moment when jihadist and bandit violence has impacted millions across the region.
—Adrian Elimian, semafor.com, 25 Feb. 2026
Traditional western dramas were more likely to depict vaqueros as bandits than hard-working ranch hands whose contributions were fundamental to the American West.
—Foreign Correspondent, Los Angeles Times, 23 Feb. 2026
See All Example Sentences for bandit
Recent Examples of Synonyms for bandit
Noun
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The alternately gloomy and euphoric pop songs cut and paste snippets of UK pirate radio culture and New York’s Paradise Garage.—
Aimee Cliff,
Pitchfork,
3 Apr. 2026
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While women pirates weren’t exactly a dime a dozen even during the height of piracy, there were a surprising number of fearless females who plied the seven seas.—
Encyclopedia Britannica,
Encyclopedia Britannica,
2 Apr. 2026
Noun
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Detectives learned Lugo was the leader of a group made up of drifters and petty thieves who hung out at the Sun Gym.—
Troy Roberts,
CBS News,
8 Apr. 2026
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Carla says her parents had no idea who might be behind the robberies and were surprised the thieves had ignored the millions of dollars’ worth of paintings.—
Jennifer Cannon,
Vanity Fair,
7 Apr. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Bandit.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/bandit. Accessed 13 Apr. 2026.
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