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
In another incident, a seemingly hungry crew pilfered 12 tons of KitKat bars.
—
Daniel Wine, CNN Money, 30 Mar. 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
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
Daniel Wine, CNN Money, 30 Mar. 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
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
Recent Examples of Synonyms for pilfered
Verb
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Jackson Merrill followed with a single and stole second before Bogaerts hit a two-run single to center.—
ABC News,
ABC News,
15 Apr. 2026
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One laborer stole a parking placard and made a copy of it in order to park in a secure lot, the OIG found.—
Talia Soglin,
Chicago Tribune,
15 Apr. 2026
Verb
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Warnings pile up In 2018, a neighbor said she was lured to Guzman’s backyard in Omaha, where Guzman swiped at the neighbor’s neck with a knife, according to the woman’s affidavit.—
Selina Guevara,
NBC news,
19 Apr. 2026
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Replays showed while still lying on the court, Ball’s left hand swiped at Adebeyao’s right foot.—
Roderick Boone,
Charlotte Observer,
16 Apr. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Pilfered.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/pilfered. Accessed 21 Apr. 2026.
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