as in stealing
to take (something) without right and with an intent to keep
what sort of person would pilfer lunches from the office refrigerator?
Synonyms & Similar Words
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
as in pilferage
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Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of pilfering
Reed Albergotti, semafor.com, 24 Oct. 2025
And not the two sets of federal indictments against him for pilfering classified documents and then refusing to return them and for defrauding the United States.
—Jeff Robbins, Oc Register, 20 Oct. 2025
Seven people are locked up for running a theft ring that included pilfering more than $800,000 in smoke detectors from Home Depot stores across Florida — including Miami-Dade, according to Attorney General James Uthmeier.
—Milena Malaver, Miami Herald, 2 Oct. 2025
This, above, was the first of Naeher’s career on her 200th NWSL outing, pilfering a 3-3 draw (from three down, on the road) against Seattle Reign.
—Phil Hay, New York Times, 21 Aug. 2025
Noun
Earlier this week the company filed a lawsuit against a group of data-scraping companies for allegedly pilfering its content and selling it to Perplexity.
—Reed Albergotti, semafor.com, 24 Oct. 2025
And not the two sets of federal indictments against him for pilfering classified documents and then refusing to return them and for defrauding the United States.
—Jeff Robbins, Oc Register, 20 Oct. 2025
Seven people are locked up for running a theft ring that included pilfering more than $800,000 in smoke detectors from Home Depot stores across Florida — including Miami-Dade, according to Attorney General James Uthmeier.
—Milena Malaver, Miami Herald, 2 Oct. 2025
This, above, was the first of Naeher’s career on her 200th NWSL outing, pilfering a 3-3 draw (from three down, on the road) against Seattle Reign.
—Phil Hay, New York Times, 21 Aug. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for pilfering
Verb
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The sign-stealing scandal of the Houston Astros [who beat the Dodgers in the 2017 World Series].—
Alison Weinflash,
Rolling Stone,
31 Oct. 2025
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What was once a guilty-pleasure show for the whole family to enjoy has since captivated audiences through a refreshing social media strategy and stars like Robert Irwin, who is totally stealing hearts on the dance floor and our phone screens.—
Jessie Quinn,
StyleCaster,
31 Oct. 2025
Noun
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When Brown was 22 years old, he was charged in at least four separate cases that included shoplifting, larceny, breaking and entering, and felony conspiracy.—
Thao Nguyen,
USA Today,
24 Oct. 2025
-
This would cause large crowds, traffic, accidents, shoplifting and other issues, leading officers to work extra hours.—
Kaycee Sloan,
Cincinnati Enquirer,
23 Oct. 2025
Noun
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After news hit of Ozer’s Safehaven embezzlement indictment in 2024, Ozer spent months reassuring folks that the charges were all going to go away.—
Steve Belanger,
HollywoodReporter,
23 Oct. 2025
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A week after South Lake Tahoe’s mayor resigned amid an embezzlement scandal, her successor was chosen — a man who is fighting charges related to a run-in at a bar.—
Bay Area News Group,
Mercury News,
22 Oct. 2025
Noun
-
Stacey Wondra, 33, has been charged with first-degree murder, second-degree kidnapping and destruction of evidence, Payette County Sheriff Andy Creech told the Idaho Statesman.—
Alex Brizee,
Idaho Statesman,
31 Oct. 2025
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The true-crime film follows the mysterious death of a young mother and her son's kidnapping.—
Emy LaCroix,
PEOPLE,
29 Oct. 2025
Noun
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As far as plane hijacking stories go, Good News has a pretty happy ending.—
Kayti Burt,
Time,
17 Oct. 2025
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The hijacking of the sport and the community institutions that built it, by noxious forces using it for their own means.—
Nick Miller,
New York Times,
24 Sep. 2025
Noun
-
Aron Solomon on how the Meta AI copyright decision made libraries sitting ducks for AI plundering.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
27 June 2025
Noun
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While initially very popular among his people, by 2013, multiple scandals — including romantic affairs, financial misappropriation and an infamous elephant hunting trip to Africa — led the King to abdicate and pass the throne to his youngest child and only son, King Felipe.—
Meredith Kile,
PEOPLE,
30 Oct. 2025
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Prosecutors reportedly revealed Laffitte’s misappropriation of funds allowed Murdaugh to pay off fraudulent loans and personal debts, further cementing that his assistance was pivotal in allowing Murdaugh to keep his financial crimes in motion over the course of several years.—
Julia Bonavita,
FOXNews.com,
13 Oct. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Pilfering.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/pilfering. Accessed 4 Nov. 2025.
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