as in pirates
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 bandits
Set against mountainous landscapes and rural lakes, the story follows a wandering swordsman who is falsely accused of stealing a shipment of gold and must unravel a web of intrigue involving bandits, palace guards and corrupt officials while attempting to clear his name.
—
Lin Ying-Hsuan, Variety, 18 Mar. 2026
Alongside attacks by bandits, Nigeria is also plagued by an insurgency fought by the Boko Haram extremist group and its splinter faction, the Islamic State West Africa Province.
—ABC News, 17 Mar. 2026
Our people will never obey orders from a handful of stateless bandits.
—Antonio Maria Delgado, Miami Herald, 17 Mar. 2026
The San Francisco 49ers may just be the bandits of 2026 free agency.
—Noah Furtado, San Francisco Chronicle, 16 Mar. 2026
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
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
The bandits are those who help themselves and cause others a loss.
—Jonny Thomson, Big Think, 11 Feb. 2026
Lin Ying-Hsuan, Variety, 18 Mar. 2026
Alongside attacks by bandits, Nigeria is also plagued by an insurgency fought by the Boko Haram extremist group and its splinter faction, the Islamic State West Africa Province.
—ABC News, 17 Mar. 2026
Our people will never obey orders from a handful of stateless bandits.
—Antonio Maria Delgado, Miami Herald, 17 Mar. 2026
The San Francisco 49ers may just be the bandits of 2026 free agency.
—Noah Furtado, San Francisco Chronicle, 16 Mar. 2026
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
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
The bandits are those who help themselves and cause others a loss.
—Jonny Thomson, Big Think, 11 Feb. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for bandits
Noun
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Doorbell cameras catch porch pirates.—
Kurt Knutsson,
FOXNews.com,
18 Mar. 2026
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Where the Story Is Heading Season 2 ended with the Straw Hat pirates realizing the scale of Baroque Works and setting course for Arabasta Island.—
Hanna Wickes,
Charlotte Observer,
17 Mar. 2026
Noun
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It had been snatched from Gerald Ross, 70, by two thieves who followed him home from a trip to a bank and a post office.—
ABC News,
ABC News,
16 Mar. 2026
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Depending on the ebbs and flows of the bubble during championship week — and potential bid thieves — 22 teams fit this distinction.—
Scott Phillips,
New York Times,
13 Mar. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Bandits.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/bandits. Accessed 23 Mar. 2026.
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