Synonyms of theft

theft

noun

ˈtheft 

1

as in robbery

the unlawful taking and carrying away of property without the consent of its owner

while violent crime in the city has decreased dramatically, rates of theft and vandalism have risen slightly

Synonyms & Similar Words

• robbery
• stealing
• larceny
• thievery
• kidnapping
• burglary
• abduction
• smuggling
• embezzlement
• piracy
• misappropriation
• shoplifting
• pilferage
• looting
• rustling
• graft
• pilfering
• misapplication
• hijacking
• housebreaking
• peculation
• embezzling
• plundering
• spoliation
• petit larceny
• carjacking
• rapine
• petty larceny
• poaching
• pillage
• despoliation
• banditry
• filching
• purloining
• despoilment
• shanghaiing
• black marketeering

2

as in snatching

an instance of theft

the police found the stolen car an hour after the theft was reported

Synonyms & Similar Words

• snatching
• grab
• mugging
• swiping
• heist
• burglary
• pinch
• break-in
• rip-off
• holdup
• stickup

Example Sentences

Recent Examples of theft

Groth said the scale and complexity of such thefts suggest increasingly sophisticated criminal operations. — Suzanne Phan, ABC News, 6 Nov. 2026

One in ten financial institutions experienced more than 10,000 fraud attempts in 2024 alone, according to Alloy, spanning synthetic identities, account takeovers and credential theft. — Jess Turner, Forbes.com, 6 Nov. 2026

The theft in Oakland is the latest in a wave of increasingly bold hardware heists. — Nick Indge, ArsTechnica, 6 Nov. 2026

After a wage theft investigation ended in a settlement, McDonald and 55 other former workers at Wash Park Grille and its sister restaurant, Agave Taco Bar, will split $117,244, which includes full back pay plus more in fines. — Justin Wingerter, Denver Post, 6 Nov. 2026