Synonyms of pilfering

pilfering 1 of 2

noun

as in pilferage

Related Words

• pilferage
• shoplifting
• filching
• purloining
• embezzlement
• kidnapping
• hijacking
• plundering
• misappropriation
• looting
• stealing
• abduction
• petit larceny
• graft
• embezzling
• peculation
• petty larceny
• misapplication
• pillage
• spoliation
• burglary
• carjacking
• rapine
• despoliation
• robbery
• poaching
• larceny
• thievery
• shanghaiing
• smuggling
• rustling
• theft
• housebreaking
• despoilment
• piracy
• banditry
• black marketeering

pilfering

2 of 2

verb

present participle of pilfer

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

• stealing
• swiping
• filching
• thieving
• grabbing
• robbing
• purloining
• snatching
• lifting
• appropriating
• misappropriating
• nicking
• pocketing
• pinching
• snitching
• nipping
• hooking
• hijacking
• ripping off
• plundering
• heisting
• making off with
• running off with
• boosting
• looting
• picking
• taking
• making away with
• pillaging
• seizing
• walking off with
• burglarizing
• sacking
• poaching
• shoplifting
• knocking over
• rifling
• rustling
• grasping
• kidnapping
• mooching
• abducting
• spiriting
• collaring
• sponging
• carjacking
• nailing
• shanghaiing

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• buying
• purchasing
• giving
• contributing
• presenting
• donating
• bestowing
• handing over

Example Sentences

Recent Examples of pilfering

Noun

In the second novel of the Amina al-Sirafi fantasy series, Chakraborty sets her pirate protagonist out onto the high seas for some perilous pilfering after being dragged into her partner’s problems. — Erik Pedersen, Oc Register, 8 May 2026

Verb

The dark comedy centers on Malina and Viktor, a sister and brother getting by on the fringes of post-Communist Macedonia by pilfering busts of national heroes cast in bronze, along with manhole covers, and selling off the metal. — Naman Ramachandran, Variety, 31 Oct. 2026

According to prosecutors, Lavie posed as the girlfriend of numerous men between 2023 and 2025 before pilfering cash, gold and high-value items from homes in Westlake Village, West Hollywood, Los Angeles and Beverly Hills. — Richard Winton, Los Angeles Times, 27 Oct. 2026

The frequency with which the Premier League’s richest are now pilfering the best players from fellow English clubs is no coincidence. — Chris Weatherspoon, New York Times, 2 Aug. 2026

Prosecutors said Pildes defrauded attendees and small business owners alike, pilfering funds to pay for extensive renovations on a lakefront property in New Jersey, concert tickets, luxury getaways, Michelin star meals and a sports car. — Molly Crane-Newman, New York Daily News, 15 Apr. 2026

Season 5, meanwhile, has noticeably flattened its ensemble, leaning on simplistic personality traits and pilfering from previous arcs. — Shirley Li, The Atlantic, 26 Dec. 2025

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