as in thief
a person who illegally enters a building in order to steal things; a person who commits burglary
The burglar had broken into several homes in the neighborhood.
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Recent Examples of burglar
Prosecuting lawyer David Patience claimed that because the burglars’ victims were targeted because of their sexuality, the robberies could be viewed as hate crimes.
—
Abby Monteil, Them., 23 Dec. 2025
In the original Home Alone, Kevin is forced to defend him home from two bumbling burglars by setting various booby traps around the house.
—Mitchell Peters, Billboard, 21 Dec. 2025
The incident was memed around the world, even by the German company that manufactured the burglars’ ladder; in France, a country where cultural heritage is practically a state religion, it was treated like a terrorist attack.
—Julian Lucas, New Yorker, 21 Dec. 2025
If the burglars continue even after a spotlight is activated, your home or business security system will be there to take action.
—Brandee Gruener, Southern Living, 20 Dec. 2025
See All Example Sentences for burglar
Abby Monteil, Them., 23 Dec. 2025
In the original Home Alone, Kevin is forced to defend him home from two bumbling burglars by setting various booby traps around the house.
—Mitchell Peters, Billboard, 21 Dec. 2025
The incident was memed around the world, even by the German company that manufactured the burglars’ ladder; in France, a country where cultural heritage is practically a state religion, it was treated like a terrorist attack.
—Julian Lucas, New Yorker, 21 Dec. 2025
If the burglars continue even after a spotlight is activated, your home or business security system will be there to take action.
—Brandee Gruener, Southern Living, 20 Dec. 2025
See All Example Sentences for burglar
Recent Examples of Synonyms for burglar
Noun
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The empty frames left by the thieves still hang in the museum to this day.—
Ashley J. DiMella,
FOXNews.com,
8 Nov. 2025
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Investigators said the thief arrived in a white 2005-2010 Chevrolet Silverado.—
Teri Figueroa,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
8 Nov. 2025
Noun
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One robber also used pepper spray.—
Cameron Macdonald,
Mercury News,
7 Jan. 2026
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Police said in each instance, two to four robbers exited a white sedan, approached the victims, and demanded their personal items at gunpoint.—
Adam Harrington,
CBS News,
5 Jan. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Burglar.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/burglar. Accessed 8 Jan. 2026.
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