as in stole
to take (something) without right and with an intent to keep
what sort of person would pilfer lunches from the office refrigerator?
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Recent Examples of pilfered
The music joins the casting and a too-scary third act as the only elements of this movie that don’t fully embrace its bar-lowering lack of ambition — the only elements that don’t feel pilfered from pre-existing classics.
—
David Ehrlich, IndieWire, 1 May 2026
Tyler Cordeiro first pilfered Jannotta’s prescription pills as a teenager.
—Craig R. McCoy, CNN Money, 24 Apr. 2026
Tyler Cordeiro first pilfered Jannotta’s prescription pills as a teenager.
—Craig R. McCoy, ProPublica, 23 Apr. 2026
Many of the things that happen in this film have happened for real, and they’re pilfered from actual F1 events.
—Jazz Tangcay, Variety, 1 Mar. 2026
As when just standing in the Mingus Quick Stop parking lot and squinting down the street at lifting dust while overhearing from within the most mysterious conversation about missing Little Debbie Honey Buns—not stolen, gradually pilfered, but just missing.
—David Searcy, Harpers Magazine, 30 Dec. 2025
Wednesday brings the Rule 5 Draft, when eligible prospects can be selected by any of the 30 teams and effectively pilfered from rival organizations.
—Jackson Roberts, MSNBC Newsweek, 6 Dec. 2025
The tokens were pilfered from the LuBian Bitcoin mining pool in December 2020.
—Andrew Nusca, Fortune, 12 Nov. 2025
This is not the first time public art has been pilfered in San Jose.
—Jason Green, Mercury News, 22 Oct. 2025
David Ehrlich, IndieWire, 1 May 2026
Tyler Cordeiro first pilfered Jannotta’s prescription pills as a teenager.
—Craig R. McCoy, CNN Money, 24 Apr. 2026
Tyler Cordeiro first pilfered Jannotta’s prescription pills as a teenager.
—Craig R. McCoy, ProPublica, 23 Apr. 2026
Many of the things that happen in this film have happened for real, and they’re pilfered from actual F1 events.
—Jazz Tangcay, Variety, 1 Mar. 2026
As when just standing in the Mingus Quick Stop parking lot and squinting down the street at lifting dust while overhearing from within the most mysterious conversation about missing Little Debbie Honey Buns—not stolen, gradually pilfered, but just missing.
—David Searcy, Harpers Magazine, 30 Dec. 2025
Wednesday brings the Rule 5 Draft, when eligible prospects can be selected by any of the 30 teams and effectively pilfered from rival organizations.
—Jackson Roberts, MSNBC Newsweek, 6 Dec. 2025
The tokens were pilfered from the LuBian Bitcoin mining pool in December 2020.
—Andrew Nusca, Fortune, 12 Nov. 2025
This is not the first time public art has been pilfered in San Jose.
—Jason Green, Mercury News, 22 Oct. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for pilfered
Verb
-
Story, who stole second in Boston’s three-run first inning, was among the players who might have been relaying signs.—
Cody Stavenhagen,
New York Times,
6 May 2026
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And, surprise, surprise, that’s exactly what happened Tuesday when Shirokawa lined a single to center field, stole second base and scored in the bottom of the eighth inning in a 7-6 Fox Valley Conference win over visiting Hampshire.—
Rick Armstrong,
Chicago Tribune,
6 May 2026
Verb
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Pérez swiped another bag in the eighth as the Tigers stole four bases in a game for the first time since May 28, 2023.—
CBS News,
CBS News,
3 May 2026
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Pérez swiped another bag in the eighth as the Tigers stole four bases in a game for the first time since May 28, 2023.—
ABC News,
ABC News,
2 May 2026
Cite this Entry
“Pilfered.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/pilfered. Accessed 11 May. 2026.
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