1
as in to invade
to enter a house or building by force usually with illegal intent
someone burgled the lab when no one was there and let the animals out of their cages
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
2
as in to rob
to remove valuables from (a place) unlawfully
the neighbors returned from vacation to find that their house had been burgled
Synonyms & Similar Words
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 burgle
A week prior to the burglary, one of the suspects was in contact with a man accused of acting as a middleman to sell luxury items burgled from wealthy homeowners, according to federal prosecutors.
—
Aaron Katersky, ABC News, 7 Feb. 2025
Four Chilean men were arrested in connection with the burglary of a string of multimillion-dollar homes, including one on the date Burrow’s home was burgled, though Burrow was not explicitly mentioned in the police report.
—Eric Levenson, CNN, 5 Feb. 2025
The leak that began the revelation came when unknown persons burgled the headquarters of the Summa Corporation, which was owned by the Hughes Tool Company.
—David Szondy, New Atlas, 4 Jan. 2025
He was incensed, mistakenly believing that the notepads had been burgled from his barn.
—Tad Friend, The New Yorker, 21 Oct. 2024
See All Example Sentences for burgle
Aaron Katersky, ABC News, 7 Feb. 2025
Four Chilean men were arrested in connection with the burglary of a string of multimillion-dollar homes, including one on the date Burrow’s home was burgled, though Burrow was not explicitly mentioned in the police report.
—Eric Levenson, CNN, 5 Feb. 2025
The leak that began the revelation came when unknown persons burgled the headquarters of the Summa Corporation, which was owned by the Hughes Tool Company.
—David Szondy, New Atlas, 4 Jan. 2025
He was incensed, mistakenly believing that the notepads had been burgled from his barn.
—Tad Friend, The New Yorker, 21 Oct. 2024
See All Example Sentences for burgle
Recent Examples of Synonyms for burgle
Verb
-
While every season is different depending on the location, some of the past challenges have included walking across a tightrope over a cliff, rescuing themselves from a sinking car and invading a crate filled with poisonous gases and chemicals.—
Caroline Blair,
People.com,
7 Aug. 2025
-
The pathogens that cause oak wilt and Dutch elm disease are active and will quickly invade an open pruning wound during warm weather.—
Megan Hughes,
Better Homes & Gardens,
5 Aug. 2025
Verb
-
Palestinians fear the settlement building in the West Bank - which has sharply intensified since the 2023 Hamas attack on Israel that led to the Gaza war - will rob them of any chance to build a state of their own in the area.—
USA Today,
USA Today,
15 Aug. 2025
-
Montgomery robbed Wenceel Pérez of a single, leaping to make a catch to begin the ninth.—
LaMond Pope,
Chicago Tribune,
12 Aug. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Burgle.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/burgle. Accessed 22 Aug. 2025.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share