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
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Recent Examples of pirate
Adrian Ruhi, Miami Herald, 6 Oct. 2025
Other efforts include limiting pirates’ access to critical web hosting and payment processing services.
—Jacob Feldman, Sportico.com, 6 Oct. 2025
Chloe Veltman, NPR, 5 Sep. 2025
But there was also a silver lining for creators: There could be liability if works were illegally downloaded without payment, opening the door for massive payouts to Universal and other studios if their movies were pirated.
—Winston Cho, HollywoodReporter, 6 Aug. 2025
See All Example Sentences for pirate
Noun
In exchange for the kickback payments, the aides used official police information to steer the pirate tow truck operators to traffic accidents, according to prosecutor Anthony Lacosta, who filed the complaint.
—Adrian Ruhi, Miami Herald, 6 Oct. 2025
Other efforts include limiting pirates’ access to critical web hosting and payment processing services.
—Jacob Feldman, Sportico.com, 6 Oct. 2025
Verb
The judge's order asserts that Anthropic pirated more than 7 million copies of books.
—Chloe Veltman, NPR, 5 Sep. 2025
But there was also a silver lining for creators: There could be liability if works were illegally downloaded without payment, opening the door for massive payouts to Universal and other studios if their movies were pirated.
—Winston Cho, HollywoodReporter, 6 Aug. 2025
See All Example Sentences for pirate
Recent Examples of Synonyms for pirate
Noun
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Swashbucklers, scoundrels, bandits and buccaneers will soon be bellying up to the bar inside a lively new pirate pub at Walt Disney World that’s already booked solid for the first two months and promises to be a must-have reservation for visitors.—
Brady MacDonald,
Oc Register,
29 Aug. 2025
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The conference curated a world of coming wonders for several hundred C-suite buccaneers who had paid up to fifty thousand dollars apiece to update their mental models and investment portfolios.—
Tad Friend,
New Yorker,
4 Aug. 2025
Verb
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According to Rolling Stone, Watkins was first arrested in September 2012 after police officers seized a large number of mobile phones and storage devices after conducting a drug search warrant at his home in Pontypridd, a town in Wales.—
Giana Levy,
Variety,
11 Oct. 2025
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Polymarket for its part has drawn in younger users with a better platform and by seizing upon the pandemic-era gambling trend especially prevalent in Gen Z men—not to mention with a little help from a newly friendly regulatory environment.—
Marco Quiroz-Gutierrez,
Fortune,
11 Oct. 2025
Noun
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The ghost ship of Harpswell had been the privateer Dash, which had been lost at sea after compiling its remarkable record.—
Leanna Renee Hieber,
Big Think,
2 Oct. 2025
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The muse, known as Lucybelle II, was a rare privateer entry that demonstrated the determination of non-factory teams.—
Rachel Cormack,
Robb Report,
18 Sep. 2025
Verb
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Baltasar Rodriguez had stolen the ball from an Atlanta defender and crossed the ball to Messi.—
Michelle Kaufman,
Miami Herald,
12 Oct. 2025
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Look no further than Saturday’s Game 5, when both the Cubs and Brewers used an opener followed by a bulk reliever, and rookie Misiorowski stole the show with four strong innings to help the Brewers advance.—
Chad Jennings,
New York Times,
12 Oct. 2025
Noun
-
There is widespread, cross-partisan public support for finally clamping down on these corporate freebooters.—
Prem Thakker,
The New Republic,
23 Feb. 2023
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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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Ogles’ phone was confiscated by the FBI in 2024.—
Vivian Jones,
Nashville Tennessean,
17 Oct. 2025
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Jones had asserted that the shootings were staged as part of a federal plot to confiscate Americans’ guns.—
Ted Johnson,
Deadline,
14 Oct. 2025
Noun
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If peaceable trading isn't your dream, consider the corsair life, pillaging other ships for their precious cargo.—
Alan Bradley,
Space.com,
7 Oct. 2025
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Set in 1492, the series follows Sara, the defiant daughter of Granada’s chief Rabbi, exiled during Spain’s expulsion of its Jewish population and captured by Ottoman corsairs (‘Korsan’ in Turkish).—
Ben Croll,
Variety,
29 Sep. 2025
Verb
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In grabbing McNeeley in the same class as Knueppel, Sion James and Ryan Kalkbrenner, Charlotte wanted to infuse its roster with youthful players boasting an old school mentality.—
Roderick Boone,
Charlotte Observer,
13 Oct. 2025
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If her vibe is all about being cute yet comfy, grab the matching shorts for extra brownie points.—
Christa Joanna Lee,
Glamour,
13 Oct. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Pirate.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/pirate. Accessed 18 Oct. 2025.
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