as in buccaneers
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
Relevance
as in seizes
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
show current usage.
Read More
Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors.
Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of pirates
Rafa Sales Ross, Variety, 20 Sep. 2025
Leaders in the Ming dynasty (1368–1644) focused on combating pirates and handling trade across the strait as Chinese settlers increasingly moved to the island.
—David C. Kang, Foreign Affairs, 19 Sep. 2025
The structure is similar to how pirates and privateers once attacked foreign enemies at sea on behalf of their government.
—Rick Bennett, Time, 17 Sep. 2025
Stevenson’s pirates are a frighteningly murderous and totally untrustworthy bunch, thriving on threats and duplicity.
—Rob Hubbard, Twin Cities, 15 Sep. 2025
What’s the favorite restaurant for peg-legged pirates?
—Richard Lederer, San Diego Union-Tribune, 13 Sep. 2025
The pirates forced the survivors to help load the ship with as many ore containers as the ship could carry before sending them back to the ice moon to agonizingly await whatever would be their fate.
—Manuel Muñoz, Literary Hub, 11 Sep. 2025
For decades, the characters in science-fiction movies and TV shows who traveled on spaceships tended to be scientists, explorers, diplomats, soldiers, and pirates.
—Noel Murray, Vulture, 3 Sep. 2025
Off the coast between Somalia and Yemen, the ship was attacked by pirates, and passengers were told to wait on Deck 5 as the captain sped up the ship.
—Kathleen Wong, USA Today, 2 Sep. 2025
Noun
On the other hand, there was also the concept of reading and how to integrate that in the story, how the pirates learn to read, and how words go together.
—Rafa Sales Ross, Variety, 20 Sep. 2025
Leaders in the Ming dynasty (1368–1644) focused on combating pirates and handling trade across the strait as Chinese settlers increasingly moved to the island.
—David C. Kang, Foreign Affairs, 19 Sep. 2025
The structure is similar to how pirates and privateers once attacked foreign enemies at sea on behalf of their government.
—Rick Bennett, Time, 17 Sep. 2025
Stevenson’s pirates are a frighteningly murderous and totally untrustworthy bunch, thriving on threats and duplicity.
—Rob Hubbard, Twin Cities, 15 Sep. 2025
What’s the favorite restaurant for peg-legged pirates?
—Richard Lederer, San Diego Union-Tribune, 13 Sep. 2025
The pirates forced the survivors to help load the ship with as many ore containers as the ship could carry before sending them back to the ice moon to agonizingly await whatever would be their fate.
—Manuel Muñoz, Literary Hub, 11 Sep. 2025
For decades, the characters in science-fiction movies and TV shows who traveled on spaceships tended to be scientists, explorers, diplomats, soldiers, and pirates.
—Noel Murray, Vulture, 3 Sep. 2025
Off the coast between Somalia and Yemen, the ship was attacked by pirates, and passengers were told to wait on Deck 5 as the captain sped up the ship.
—Kathleen Wong, USA Today, 2 Sep. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for pirates
Noun
-
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
-
Continue reading … DRUG WAR VICTORY – Task force seizes enough cocaine 'to kill every American' in record efforts.—
,
FOXNews.com,
30 Sep. 2025
-
Against her will, Fadia becomes trapped in an asylum while her cousin seizes her inheritance, depriving her of even her right to grieve.—
Jenny S. Li,
Variety,
21 Sep. 2025
Verb
-
The woman — a US citizen, according to the Department of Homeland Security — had rammed her car into a federal law enforcement vehicle, the complaint claims.—
Karina Tsui,
CNN Money,
5 Oct. 2025
-
Neutrogena Triple Age Repair Face Moisturizer The Triple Age Repair Moisturizer claims to deliver a noticeable difference within four weeks, but many shoppers saw results even sooner.—
Caley Sturgill,
Southern Living,
5 Oct. 2025
Noun
-
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
-
Carol steals him away first and is so awkward and confused as to how to flirt.—
Ali Barthwell,
Vulture,
2 Oct. 2025
-
But as in most of his roles since The Departed and The Fighter, Wahlberg shows little charisma, particularly when he’s flanked by an actor with the irreverent verve of LaKeith Stanfield, who steals every scene without even breaking a sweat.—
David Rooney,
HollywoodReporter,
30 Sep. 2025
Noun
-
Its namesake, cattleman Oliver Loving, was shot by a band of raiders during a cattle drive in 1866, and died of shock a few days later after a doctor didn’t amputate his gangrenous arm.—
Mitch Moxley,
Rolling Stone,
27 Sep. 2025
-
All of them have been broken into by raiders over the centuries, their walls smashed or lids prised off despite once being locked shut with metal clasps.—
Barry Neild,
CNN Money,
23 Sep. 2025
Verb
-
Each of the casitas at Los Milics has a living room that converts to a bedroom.—
Richard Ruelas,
AZCentral.com,
4 Oct. 2025
-
Taiwan converts time into a weapon by turning drones into throughput problems, from design to fab to field to refresh.—
Kapil Kajal,
Interesting Engineering,
1 Oct. 2025
Verb
-
When virtual particle pairs pop into existence at the edge of black holes, sometimes the black hole’s gravity grabs one partner while the other escapes.—
Dipangkar Dutta,
The Conversation,
3 Oct. 2025
-
When Catalina goes into the kitchen to refill her calabash, Frances grabs the box of Thompson paperbacks and makes a run for Ray at the restaurant.—
Amanda Whiting,
Vulture,
1 Oct. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Pirates.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/pirates. Accessed 7 Oct. 2025.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share