as in thieves
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.
Related Words
Relevance
Example Sentences
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
Read More
Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors.
Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of burglars
Oak Lawn police said Johnson was part of a group of burglars who broke into two businesses and smashed open video gambling terminals to steal cash.
—
Todd Feurer, CBS News, 5 Mar. 2026
Des Cars has acknowledged that the museum's cameras failed to spot the burglars and that there were not enough cameras monitoring the building's perimeter.
—N'dea Yancey-Bragg, USA Today, 24 Feb. 2026
Shops in Gardena, Simi Valley and Huntington Beach have all been hit by burglars bypassing cash registers and going straight for the cards.
—Cierra Morgan, Los Angeles Times, 20 Feb. 2026
The Lucky Supermarket in Montclair was targeted twice in three days this week by pre-dawn burglars, who used a vehicle to smash through an entrance before taking merchandise in one break-in and some cash from an ATM in the other, authorities said.
—Harry Harris, The Mercury News, 27 Dec. 2024
Initially reveling in his newfound freedom, Kevin soon faces a pair of bumbling burglars and devises elaborate traps to protect his home.
—John Dealbreuin Wealth Of Geeks, Boston Herald, 26 Dec. 2024
Kevin must then reconcile with being left behind, while also defending his home from burglars, played by Joe Pesci and Daniel Stern.
—Lori A Bashian Fox News, Fox News, 26 Dec. 2024
What ensues is a hilarious comedy of events as the 8-year-old not only learns to take care of himself at home but sets up the most elaborate traps to keep the would-be burglars at bay.
—Benedict Cosgrove, Newsweek, 20 Dec. 2024
Because this is an adult show, there are jokes about the burglars being incontinent and using walkers.
—Christopher Arnott, Hartford Courant, 17 Dec. 2024
Todd Feurer, CBS News, 5 Mar. 2026
Des Cars has acknowledged that the museum's cameras failed to spot the burglars and that there were not enough cameras monitoring the building's perimeter.
—N'dea Yancey-Bragg, USA Today, 24 Feb. 2026
Shops in Gardena, Simi Valley and Huntington Beach have all been hit by burglars bypassing cash registers and going straight for the cards.
—Cierra Morgan, Los Angeles Times, 20 Feb. 2026
The Lucky Supermarket in Montclair was targeted twice in three days this week by pre-dawn burglars, who used a vehicle to smash through an entrance before taking merchandise in one break-in and some cash from an ATM in the other, authorities said.
—Harry Harris, The Mercury News, 27 Dec. 2024
Initially reveling in his newfound freedom, Kevin soon faces a pair of bumbling burglars and devises elaborate traps to protect his home.
—John Dealbreuin Wealth Of Geeks, Boston Herald, 26 Dec. 2024
Kevin must then reconcile with being left behind, while also defending his home from burglars, played by Joe Pesci and Daniel Stern.
—Lori A Bashian Fox News, Fox News, 26 Dec. 2024
What ensues is a hilarious comedy of events as the 8-year-old not only learns to take care of himself at home but sets up the most elaborate traps to keep the would-be burglars at bay.
—Benedict Cosgrove, Newsweek, 20 Dec. 2024
Because this is an adult show, there are jokes about the burglars being incontinent and using walkers.
—Christopher Arnott, Hartford Courant, 17 Dec. 2024
Recent Examples of Synonyms for burglars
Noun
-
Data brokers collect your personal information legitimately, while hackers and identity thieves don’t attempt legitimacy.—
Neil J. Rubenking,
PC Magazine,
5 Mar. 2026
-
The thieves stole about $6,000 from the pizzeria.—
Jeramie Bizzle,
CBS News,
5 Mar. 2026
Noun
-
But only one of the robbers, a man named Derrick DeBruce, decided to shoot Battle.—
Amanda Lee Myers,
USA Today,
10 Mar. 2026
-
Burton and other robbers left the store when Battle entered and exchanged words with DeBruce, according to court testimony.—
CBS News,
CBS News,
10 Mar. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Burglars.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/burglars. Accessed 14 Mar. 2026.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
