as in buccaneer
someone who engages in robbery of ships at sea
Sir Francis Drake was a British pirate who preyed on Spanish ships with the connivance of Elizabeth I
Synonyms & Similar Words
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as in to seize
to take or make use of under a guise of authority but without actual right
using pirated software that was subject to copyright
Synonyms & Similar Words
Example Sentences
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
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Recent Examples of pirate
Stacey Leasca, Travel + Leisure, 27 May 2026
Off the coast of Somalia, pirates appear to have noticed.
—Luke McGee, Time, 27 May 2026
Teri Sforza, Oc Register, 10 Apr. 2026
Massive cannons were stationed at forts across the world, while smaller and more-portable guns accompanied troops and naval (and pirate) vessels.
—Encyclopedia Britannica, 2 Apr. 2026
See All Example Sentences for pirate
Noun
The spot is known for its utter romance and distinct architecture, with buildings featuring balconies hovering over the water—it's said these were used by resident merchants to load their goods directly onto boats and (hopefully) avoid pirates.
—Stacey Leasca, Travel + Leisure, 27 May 2026
Off the coast of Somalia, pirates appear to have noticed.
—Luke McGee, Time, 27 May 2026
Verb
Any new Costco will only pirate customers from existing retail stores, adding to new vacancies.
—Teri Sforza, Oc Register, 10 Apr. 2026
Massive cannons were stationed at forts across the world, while smaller and more-portable guns accompanied troops and naval (and pirate) vessels.
—Encyclopedia Britannica, 2 Apr. 2026
See All Example Sentences for pirate
Recent Examples of Synonyms for pirate
Noun
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In 1688 the English buccaneer William Dampier explored New Holland’s northwestern coast.—
Britannica Editors,
Encyclopedia Britannica,
19 Mar. 2026
-
French buccaneers spent much of the seventeenth century hiding and plundering along the northwest coast of Hispaniola, eventually realizing more money could be made farming tobacco and sugar.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
5 Jan. 2026
Verb
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In April, Ukraine actually took back more land than Russia seized for the first time since 2024.—
Lauren Kent,
CNN Money,
4 June 2026
-
Metcalf's father has condemned those who have seized on the race of the teenagers after the killing.—
ABC News,
ABC News,
4 June 2026
Noun
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In 1783, another privateer, John Claypoole, became Ross’ third husband, and the couple raised a large family and lived full lives in the city.—
Marla Miller,
The Conversation,
23 Mar. 2026
-
These men were, respectively, a reformist prime minister, the founder of the police force, a naval explorer and a privateer.—
Simon Constable,
FOXNews.com,
22 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
Sukhmati described how her comrades would raid police stations to steal weapons.—
Dhruv Tikekar,
CNN Money,
30 May 2026
-
Tovar also stole home in the fourth inning.—
Patrick Saunders,
Denver Post,
30 May 2026
Noun
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There is widespread, cross-partisan public support for finally clamping down on these corporate freebooters.—
Prem Thakker,
The New Republic,
23 Feb. 2023
-
After Columbus’s first footfall in the New World, Cuba fell prey to every manner of European freebooter.—
Jon Lee Anderson,
Foreign Affairs,
14 Dec. 2021
Verb
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Fighting is also driving ongoing displacements and deaths in the nearby Artibonite region where on Wednesday police destroyed the home of the head of the Kokorat San Ras gang and confiscated several weapons.—
Jacqueline Charles,
Miami Herald,
30 May 2026
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After all, having property confiscated should mean that a later settlement is effectively paying you for your property.—
Robert W. Wood,
Forbes.com,
28 May 2026
Noun
-
Though many enterprising merchants can fairly be cast as corsairs or buccaneers, a surprising number are, as people, curiously pallid.—
Adam Gopnik,
New Yorker,
16 Mar. 2026
-
In the 1790s, the United States faced a world ruled by corsairs and kings.—
Washington Post,
Washington Post,
12 Jan. 2026
Verb
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Stop here for suggestions on the best nearby dog-friendly parks for your pup, to pick up breakfast vouchers, and to grab a list of participating local businesses that offer discounts to Hotel Lucia guests.—
Condé Nast,
Condé Nast Traveler,
2 June 2026
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Rollins sneakily grabbed the title and put it near his abdomen.—
Ryan Gaydos,
FOXNews.com,
2 June 2026
Cite this Entry
“Pirate.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/pirate. Accessed 7 Jun. 2026.
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