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
That was an authentic moment, happening in real time, and it was pilfered from the actual F1 event, which Nelson put into the film.
—
Jazz Tangcay, Variety, 27 Feb. 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
Every detail is pilfered from the lives of people around me, or from my own.
—Rosemary Feitelberg, Footwear News, 15 Oct. 2025
Small bulbs like crocus are probably the most commonly pilfered.
—Paul Cappiello, Louisville Courier Journal, 10 Oct. 2025
The tale is pilfered from the Aeneid, but Virgil would blench to see the curtain rise on Jupiter, dandling Ganymede, a beautiful boy, upon his knee.
—Anthony Lane, New Yorker, 8 Sep. 2025
Jazz Tangcay, Variety, 27 Feb. 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
Every detail is pilfered from the lives of people around me, or from my own.
—Rosemary Feitelberg, Footwear News, 15 Oct. 2025
Small bulbs like crocus are probably the most commonly pilfered.
—Paul Cappiello, Louisville Courier Journal, 10 Oct. 2025
The tale is pilfered from the Aeneid, but Virgil would blench to see the curtain rise on Jupiter, dandling Ganymede, a beautiful boy, upon his knee.
—Anthony Lane, New Yorker, 8 Sep. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for pilfered
Verb
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The truck driver called the police to report the suspects cut the trailer lock and stole computer equipment, according to a statement by the Chino Police Department.—
Terry Castleman,
Los Angeles Times,
25 Feb. 2026
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After Pritchard stole an errant Suns pass, White zipped one inside to Queta for an emphatic dunk.—
Zack Cox,
Boston Herald,
25 Feb. 2026
Verb
-
Dip a clean sponge in it and use it to wipe down your fridge, ensuring that all paste and grime has been swiped away.—
Asia London Palomba,
The Spruce,
27 Feb. 2026
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With Baker-Mazara and Ausar on the bench, Arenas attempted to split defenders before Oregon's Dezdrick Lindsay swiped the ball and threw it into the front court as time expired.—
CBS News,
CBS News,
22 Feb. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Pilfered.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/pilfered. Accessed 3 Mar. 2026.
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