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
Relevance
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
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 pirate
AFAR Media, 22 May 2025
Located in shallow waters near Costa Rica’s Cahuita National Park, the wrecks were long thought to belong to pirate ships, according to local legend.
—Eli Wizevich, Smithsonian Magazine, 8 May 2025
Michael Kan, PC Magazine, 26 Mar. 2025
He was booted in 2004 for pirating screeners intended only for members to view and use for awards voting purposes.
—James Mercadante, EW.com, 1 Mar. 2025
See All Example Sentences for pirate
Noun
Even non-divers can celebrate with pirate brunches, community beach cleanups, beach parties, quiz nights, and other ways to join in above and below the waves.
—AFAR Media, 22 May 2025
Located in shallow waters near Costa Rica’s Cahuita National Park, the wrecks were long thought to belong to pirate ships, according to local legend.
—Eli Wizevich, Smithsonian Magazine, 8 May 2025
Verb
Cloud software provider VMware is suing Siemens for allegedly pirating the company’s products through unauthorized downloads.
—Michael Kan, PC Magazine, 26 Mar. 2025
He was booted in 2004 for pirating screeners intended only for members to view and use for awards voting purposes.
—James Mercadante, EW.com, 1 Mar. 2025
See All Example Sentences for pirate
Recent Examples of Synonyms for pirate
Noun
-
But that’s not all… Reality Distortion According to Vasko, cyber criminals behind this type of villainy may be thought of as AI buccaneers—digital pirates often paid to instigate corporate espionage and theft.—
Michael Ashley,
Forbes.com,
30 May 2025
-
Renoir’s film dramatized the end of an era (of high-society frivolities, as war loomed), and so does Anderson’s; namely, the end of the age of buccaneer industrialism.—
Richard Brody,
New Yorker,
29 May 2025
Verb
-
Officials with the federal Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms conducted a search at Ross’ home in Oklahoma and seized materials that were used to build the explosive devices, police said.—
Lillie Davidson,
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
23 May 2025
-
Israel imposed a blockade on all supplies entering Gaza in March, saying Hamas was seizing supplies meant for civilians - a charge the group denies.—
Nidal al-Mughrabi,
USA Today,
23 May 2025
Noun
-
The 4x4 is designed for high-speed desert racing, and Shelby and Brady will be putting it to the test as the first privateer team to race one.—
Kristin Shaw,
Forbes.com,
21 Apr. 2025
-
The Pantera even saw competition by privateer teams in Group 3, 4, and 5 racing, with largely unsuccessful results.—
Robert Ross,
Robb Report,
17 Jan. 2025
Verb
-
Sophomore infielder Luke Nixon was responsible for half of them, stealing 14 in 16 attempts.—
Mitch Light,
New York Times,
29 May 2025
-
As the automatic runner at second, Crow-Armstrong stole third to set up Michael Busch’s tying RBI single to left.—
Meghan Montemurro,
Chicago Tribune,
28 May 2025
Noun
-
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
-
There is widespread, cross-partisan public support for finally clamping down on these corporate freebooters.—
Prem Thakker,
The New Republic,
23 Feb. 2023
Verb
-
Provincial Police confiscated the 1964 Iso Rivolta Grifo A3 Stradale, entered in the Concorso by Thomas Shannon, after allegedly stopping its American driver on the streets of Cernobbio without an International Driving Permit.—
Michael Taylor,
Forbes.com,
28 May 2025
-
Police confiscated guns, heroin, cocaine and $19,000 in cash when executing a search warrant.—
Meredith Colias-Pete,
Chicago Tribune,
20 May 2025
Noun
-
Vex have new units called Kobolds, Fallen have flying corsairs.—
Paul Tassi,
Forbes.com,
6 May 2025
-
In 1544, Barbarossa, a corsair who had risen to become admiral of the Ottoman navy, raided the island and carried away into slavery almost a thousand inhabitants—practically the island’s entire population.—
Lee Marshall,
Travel + Leisure,
15 Apr. 2025
Verb
-
In the morning, the restaurant doubles as a coffee shop where guests can grab drip coffee, fresh juices, and a small selection of hot and cold breakfast options, including the beloved Hawaiian classic, Loco Moco.—
Jalyn Robinson,
Travel + Leisure,
25 May 2025
-
The colorful bar framed in bright neon lights is on the main concourse, so people walking by can grab a drink and head to the casino or other favorite activity, Allen said.—
Pamela McLoughlin,
Hartford Courant,
24 May 2025
Cite this Entry
“Pirate.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/pirate. Accessed 3 Jun. 2025.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share