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
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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
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Recent Examples of pirates
Literary Hub, 9 Oct. 2025
For Larissa Knapp, a 27-year FBI veteran who was hired by an entertainment trade group last year to bolster ACE’s work hunting pirates, the timing could hardly have been better.
—Jacob Feldman, Sportico.com, 6 Oct. 2025
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 two letters are favorites of pirates?
—Richard Lederer, San Diego Union-Tribune, 13 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
Noun
In the Tatsuya Nagamine movie, Z is the name of an admiral who has sworn to destroy all the pirates of the New World, because of the pirates’ dream to have no leader, motivated only by their alliances that uphold the interests of every person and community.
—Literary Hub, 9 Oct. 2025
For Larissa Knapp, a 27-year FBI veteran who was hired by an entertainment trade group last year to bolster ACE’s work hunting pirates, the timing could hardly have been better.
—Jacob Feldman, Sportico.com, 6 Oct. 2025
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 two letters are favorites of pirates?
—Richard Lederer, San Diego Union-Tribune, 13 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
Recent Examples of Synonyms for pirates
Noun
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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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If Europe seizes this opportunity, quantum computing has the power to be a genuine differentiator for the continent, and shape our economy, and world, for the better.—
Jason Ma,
Fortune,
12 Oct. 2025
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The Athletic’s Daniel Popper believes a trade could be on the horizon if neither back seizes the opportunity ahead.—
Andy Behrens,
New York Times,
11 Oct. 2025
Verb
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Otto claims the Phantom 3500 will burn 60 percent less fuel than aircraft using current technology.—
Michael Verdon,
Robb Report,
12 Oct. 2025
-
Growing up, Amy claims her father, Terry Jordan, was emotionally abusive towards her and her mother and as a result, Deanna was not able to fully commit herself to parenting.—
Colson Thayer,
PEOPLE,
11 Oct. 2025
Noun
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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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However, Fred steals Velma's thunder when the scales are tilted in her favor to take back control.—
Lisa Stardust,
PEOPLE,
10 Oct. 2025
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The actress is clearly relishing the opportunity to deliver Aaron Sorkin’s barbed dialogue (though perhaps not as much as Philip Seymour Hoffman, who steals the show as an explosive CIA functionary).—
Bilge Ebiri,
Vulture,
10 Oct. 2025
Noun
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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
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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
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This non-thermal heat then traveled several micrometers to a quantum-dot heat engine, a microscopic system that converts heat into electricity through quantum effects.—
Jijo Malayil,
Interesting Engineering,
12 Oct. 2025
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Its Gaussian-splatting technology converts real locations into photoreal 3D spaces up to 10 times faster than conventional pipelines, cutting both cost and carbon footprint.—
Callum McLennan,
Variety,
10 Oct. 2025
Verb
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Never one to sit idly by, Danny grabs his NYPD shield and goes bulldozing his way to the crime scene.—
Aramide Tinubu,
Variety,
17 Oct. 2025
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And then Rising walks away, grabs the iPad and motions for Mayer to join him.—
Brian Hamilton,
New York Times,
17 Oct. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Pirates.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/pirates. Accessed 20 Oct. 2025.
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