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
The robbery lasted less than seven minutes, as the bandits used a truck with an extendable ladder to cut through a window on a second-floor balcony, according to police.
—
Mason Leath, ABC News, 27 Dec. 2025
In return, a lord provided his peasants with protection from bandits or invaders.
—Bobbi Sutherland, The Conversation, 19 Dec. 2025
After a bleak early life devoid of interactable non-player characters, Bethesda added a proper main quest and plenty of side missions built around settlers, bandits, and colorful groups that have been expanded with each content update.
—Fran Ruiz, Space.com, 15 Dec. 2025
The Sahel and western Nigeria are increasingly merging into a single, volatile theater, with JNIM, ISSP, ISWAP factions, and local bandits intensifying violence.
—Amir Daftari, MSNBC Newsweek, 11 Dec. 2025
But as Sam lugs packages around beautiful yet treacherous terrain populated by [checks notes] robo-samurais and bandits rocking fresh techwear, a skepticism of his mission sets in.
—Lewis Gordon, Vulture, 3 Dec. 2025
With store bandits in some cases striking establishments just minutes apart, investigators say stores in Avondale, Edison Park, South Loop and Lake View were all hit.
—Center Square, The Washington Examiner, 1 Dec. 2025
Ifeanyi Immanuel Bakwenye / AFP via Getty Images These abductions have been claimed by bandits rather than jihadists.
—CBS News, 30 Nov. 2025
In classical antiquity, the mountainous region was notorious for bandits; in modern times, blood feuds among clans were rife.
—Literary Hub, 22 Oct. 2025
Mason Leath, ABC News, 27 Dec. 2025
In return, a lord provided his peasants with protection from bandits or invaders.
—Bobbi Sutherland, The Conversation, 19 Dec. 2025
After a bleak early life devoid of interactable non-player characters, Bethesda added a proper main quest and plenty of side missions built around settlers, bandits, and colorful groups that have been expanded with each content update.
—Fran Ruiz, Space.com, 15 Dec. 2025
The Sahel and western Nigeria are increasingly merging into a single, volatile theater, with JNIM, ISSP, ISWAP factions, and local bandits intensifying violence.
—Amir Daftari, MSNBC Newsweek, 11 Dec. 2025
But as Sam lugs packages around beautiful yet treacherous terrain populated by [checks notes] robo-samurais and bandits rocking fresh techwear, a skepticism of his mission sets in.
—Lewis Gordon, Vulture, 3 Dec. 2025
With store bandits in some cases striking establishments just minutes apart, investigators say stores in Avondale, Edison Park, South Loop and Lake View were all hit.
—Center Square, The Washington Examiner, 1 Dec. 2025
Ifeanyi Immanuel Bakwenye / AFP via Getty Images These abductions have been claimed by bandits rather than jihadists.
—CBS News, 30 Nov. 2025
In classical antiquity, the mountainous region was notorious for bandits; in modern times, blood feuds among clans were rife.
—Literary Hub, 22 Oct. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for bandits
Noun
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December is the busiest time of year for package deliveries and for the porch pirates who steal them.—
Brittney Melton,
NPR,
31 Dec. 2025
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The Houthis are now supporting Somali pirates to again raid ships in the Indian Ocean.—
Paul Bedard,
The Washington Examiner,
27 Dec. 2025
Noun
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Brewer said the thieves also stole the radar sensor from her husband's Honda.—
Andrew Adeolu,
CBS News,
9 Jan. 2026
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As previously reported by PEOPLE, thieves entered Sanders' residence through an unlocked door and allegedly stole $200,000 in items in 12 minutes’ time, according to Medina County Sheriff’s Office deputies.—
Becca Longmire,
PEOPLE,
8 Jan. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Bandits.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/bandits. Accessed 12 Jan. 2026.
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