embezzle

verb

Definition of embezzlenext
as in to steal
to steal money that you have been trusted with He was caught embezzling money from his clients.

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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 embezzle As part of his plea agreement, Smith admitted to embezzling millions from the Conservancy from November 2012 until May 2024. — Joseph Buczek, CBS News, 18 June 2026 Haidar admitted to abusing his position as an assistant branch manager of a Wells Fargo bank to embezzle hundreds of thousands of dollars, prosecutors said, citing his plea agreement. — Jason Green, Mercury News, 2 June 2026 The court found that Shi used his positions, including as the temple abbot, to illegally embezzle more than $19 million alone or in conspiracy with others, between 2003 and 2025, CCTV reported. — Los Angeles Times, 29 May 2026 Prosecutors allege the defendants conspired to embezzle millions that went toward salary and benefits for no-show jobs, luxury international travel, fine dining, vacation payouts and unauthorized loans. — Judy L. Thomas, Kansas City Star, 28 May 2026 See All Example Sentences for embezzle
Recent Examples of Synonyms for embezzle
  1. steal
  2. usurp
  3. misappropriate
Verb
  • Police arrested more than 400 people after a melee in which businesses were smashed and goods stolen, and fireworks were dispatched in crowds.
    — Andrew J. Campa, Los Angeles Times, 10 July 2026
  • However, when her island's resources are threatened, Moana embraces her ancestors' voyaging heritage and heads out to sea to find Maui, deliver the heart of Te Fiti (which Maui stole back in the day) and save her people.
    — Brian Truitt, USA Today, 9 July 2026
Definition of steal
Verb
  • The update indicated that Maersk is set to fall behind CMA CGM for second-largest container shipping capacity worldwide by July 2027, while Hapag-Lloyd could be usurped by Ocean Network Express (ONE) in February 2028.
    — Glenn Taylor, Footwear News, 6 July 2026
  • Beulah's spurned heir Joaquin (Juan Pablo Raba) calls up the mysterious Mariana (Raoul Max Trujillo) to help with his many problems, which include his ranch-usurping half-brother Rob-Will and those Duttons from Montana.
    — Bryan Alexander, USA Today, 3 July 2026
Definition of usurp
Verb
  • The 48-year-old daughter of former president Rodrigo Duterte is accused of corruption, bribery, misappropriating millions in government funds and threatening to have the current president, Ferdinand Marcos Jr, assassinated.
    — Harriet Marsden, TheWeek, 9 July 2026
  • Following a federal investigation and an internal CBS probe, Davis was dismissed for misappropriating $94,000 from the label — money used in part to pay for his son’s bar mitzvah and family vacations.
    — Hannah Abraham, Forbes.com, 23 June 2026
Definition of misappropriate

Browse Nearby Words

embellishments
embezzle
embezzled
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Cite this Entry

“Embezzle.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/embezzle. Accessed 17 Jul. 2026.

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More from Merriam-Webster on embezzle

Nglish: Translation of embezzle for Spanish Speakers

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