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
Will Richmond, The Providence Journal, 17 Feb. 2026
Within hours, Matt is abducted by a gang of ruthless pirates led by Langbore (Copley).
—Scott Roxborough, HollywoodReporter, 17 Feb. 2026
The site, once a strategic lookout used to warn of pirates, became a magnet for lovers during the late 18th century.
—Barbie Latza Nadeau, CNN Money, 16 Feb. 2026
All of the daring and courage of the Golden Age films about cowboys, fighters, pilots, and pirates is distilled into the score for the first Indiana Jones movie.
—Alex Galbraith, Entertainment Weekly, 15 Feb. 2026
You’re surrounded by cartoon obstacles, fake pirates and a giant dinosaur — all metaphors that don’t require explanation.
—Ana Gutierrez, Austin American Statesman, 11 Feb. 2026
The duo wore Patriots jerseys and hats, one a fluffy American flag design, and the other a hybrid between a pirates hat and a football.
—Jakob Rodgers, Mercury News, 8 Feb. 2026
From the days of colonists and pirates to the more modern era (of, say, bankers and lawyers servicing offshore corporations), its touristic charms have gone largely unappreciated.
—John Bowe, Travel + Leisure, 1 Feb. 2026
On the island’s western end, Fort Frederik is a spectacular example of an 18th-century Danish masonry fort, originally constructed to protect the natural deep-water port from pirates and rival nations.
—Condé Nast Traveler, 30 Jan. 2026
Noun
New data names the top ten worst states for porch pirates, with Rhode Island placing seventh.
—Will Richmond, The Providence Journal, 17 Feb. 2026
Within hours, Matt is abducted by a gang of ruthless pirates led by Langbore (Copley).
—Scott Roxborough, HollywoodReporter, 17 Feb. 2026
The site, once a strategic lookout used to warn of pirates, became a magnet for lovers during the late 18th century.
—Barbie Latza Nadeau, CNN Money, 16 Feb. 2026
All of the daring and courage of the Golden Age films about cowboys, fighters, pilots, and pirates is distilled into the score for the first Indiana Jones movie.
—Alex Galbraith, Entertainment Weekly, 15 Feb. 2026
You’re surrounded by cartoon obstacles, fake pirates and a giant dinosaur — all metaphors that don’t require explanation.
—Ana Gutierrez, Austin American Statesman, 11 Feb. 2026
The duo wore Patriots jerseys and hats, one a fluffy American flag design, and the other a hybrid between a pirates hat and a football.
—Jakob Rodgers, Mercury News, 8 Feb. 2026
From the days of colonists and pirates to the more modern era (of, say, bankers and lawyers servicing offshore corporations), its touristic charms have gone largely unappreciated.
—John Bowe, Travel + Leisure, 1 Feb. 2026
On the island’s western end, Fort Frederik is a spectacular example of an 18th-century Danish masonry fort, originally constructed to protect the natural deep-water port from pirates and rival nations.
—Condé Nast Traveler, 30 Jan. 2026
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
-
Now, her family must reckon with the consequences as Agnes van Rhijn (Christine Baranski) seizes an opportunity to regain her position.—
Rosy Cordero,
Deadline,
13 Feb. 2026
-
Iran seizes 2 ships on smuggling claims DUBAI, United Arab Emirates -- Iran seized two foreign oil tankers in the Persian Gulf on Thursday, state television reported, claiming the vessels had been smuggling fuel.—
Arkansas Online,
Arkansas Online,
6 Feb. 2026
Verb
-
The union claims the company wants to eliminate more than 100 jobs, cut salaries, and install AI surveillance systems.—
Jacob Sarracino,
CBS News,
16 Feb. 2026
-
The result is that, despite existing household pains owing to more expensive fuel, a resurgent kidnapping crisis that exposes deep security vulnerabilities, and external pressure from a US government that claims Christians are persecuted in Nigeria, Tinubu has expanded his base and looks strong.—
Alexander Onukwue,
semafor.com,
16 Feb. 2026
Noun
-
Acknowledging burdens and consequences In the 1790s, the United States faced a world ruled by corsairs and kings.—
Maurizio Valsania,
The Conversation,
9 Jan. 2026
-
Apple has provided some guilty pleasure companion reading for fans of Vince Gilligan‘s new apocalyptic drama Pluribus, full of proud, haughty pirates corsairs and Mandovian spicefruit.—
Glenn Garner,
Deadline,
14 Nov. 2025
Verb
-
Anthony may first settle into seasons of roughly 18-22 homers with mid-teens steals before any full breakout, meaning current drafters are paying for future peak production rather than present skills.—
Derek VanRiper,
New York Times,
18 Feb. 2026
-
Continue reading … -- IN OTHER NEWS VICTORY LAP — Tyler Reddick steals Daytona 500 win in wild last-lap shootout.—
,
FOXNews.com,
16 Feb. 2026
Verb
-
The children designated as Palestinians, meanwhile, have their drawings torn up and are relegated to small corners of the classroom while the teacher confiscates their candy.—
Robert Schmad,
The Washington Examiner,
26 Nov. 2025
-
Milwaukee Marshall High School confiscates a student’s phone until the end of the day for a first offense, requires a parent pickup after a second offense and issues an automatic suspension for repeat violations.—
Kayla Huynh,
jsonline.com,
5 Nov. 2025
Noun
-
The Taopiaopiao release centers on an underperforming local police unit that fabricates minor cases to pad its record, only to uncover a genuine criminal conspiracy after a burst water main exposes a gang of tomb raiders posing as repair workers.—
Naman Ramachandran,
Variety,
9 Feb. 2026
-
Vestar was born in 1988 during private equity’s first boom, the same year a brash NYC firm known as Kohlberg Kravis & Roberts took down mighty RJR Nabisco for $25 billion ($70 billion in today’s terms), back when deals were called LBOs and dealmakers were known as corporate raiders.—
Hank Tucker,
Forbes.com,
29 Jan. 2026
Verb
-
The detachable head, which converts it to a handheld vacuum that can easily clean furniture and stairs.—
Molly Blanco,
Better Homes & Gardens,
16 Feb. 2026
-
It's made to order in Germany, targeted for the European market, and starts at €3,999 (which converts to about US$4,700).—
Stefan Ionescu
February 13,
New Atlas,
13 Feb. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Pirates.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/pirates. Accessed 21 Feb. 2026.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
