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
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Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of theft
He was expelled from Congress and pleaded guilty to wire fraud and identify theft in a criminal case involving stealing money from donors, using some of it on personal expenses including designer clothing.
—
ABC News, 3 June 2026
Ramaphosa launched a lawsuit last week after the Constitutional Court ordered a revival of an inquiry over his handling of the 2020 theft of foreign currency at his game farm.
—Tiisetso Motsoeneng, semafor.com, 3 June 2026
Often confused for being just about theft, shrink can also be due to administrative mistakes or improper storage, essentially anything that can involve the loss of inventory between the point of manufacture and the point of sale.
—Roy Stephen Canivel, Footwear News, 3 June 2026
Adam Wood of the Hebron Police Department responded to the theft call and located the vehicle leaving the area, police said.
—Post-Tribune, Chicago Tribune, 3 June 2026
See All Example Sentences for theft
ABC News, 3 June 2026
Ramaphosa launched a lawsuit last week after the Constitutional Court ordered a revival of an inquiry over his handling of the 2020 theft of foreign currency at his game farm.
—Tiisetso Motsoeneng, semafor.com, 3 June 2026
Often confused for being just about theft, shrink can also be due to administrative mistakes or improper storage, essentially anything that can involve the loss of inventory between the point of manufacture and the point of sale.
—Roy Stephen Canivel, Footwear News, 3 June 2026
Adam Wood of the Hebron Police Department responded to the theft call and located the vehicle leaving the area, police said.
—Post-Tribune, Chicago Tribune, 3 June 2026
See All Example Sentences for theft
Recent Examples of Synonyms for theft
Noun
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During these takeovers, authorities say teens often assault people and sometimes each other, commit robberies and carry out other disorderly behavior.—
Nicole Fallert,
USA Today,
3 June 2026
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Two Texas teenagers are accused of using online dating platforms to lure young men into violent robberies that left one victim pistol-whipped and a 15-year-old boy shot four times, authorities said.—
Sophia Compton,
FOXNews.com,
2 June 2026
Noun
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Schuman now faces a felony count of robbery by sudden snatching in addition to three misdemeanors — one count of battery, one count of petit theft and one count of criminal mischief, court records show.—
Angie DiMichele,
Sun Sentinel,
13 May 2026
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His co-defendant Cristian Montecino-Sanzana pleaded guilty to two counts related to one of the three thefts that Bustamante Leiva admitted — an April 12 purse-snatching at a Nando's restaurant.—
Kevin Breuninger,
CNBC,
22 Apr. 2026
Noun
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That’s base stealing in the Pitch Clock Era.—
Chad Jennings,
New York Times,
21 May 2026
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But stealing isn’t negotiation.—
Emma Hinchliffe,
Fortune,
20 May 2026
Noun
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José Caballero doubled in the fifth and scored when Paul Goldschmidt lofted an opposite-field RBI single to right just in front of Wilyer Abreu, who nearly made a sliding, backhand grab.—
ABC News,
ABC News,
7 June 2026
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Remarkably, bee after bee in the video grabs on to the little ball and starts moving it around.—
Ari Daniel,
NPR,
7 June 2026
Noun
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There’s a whole plotline about Dzanielle’s desire to get a status dog walker named Yuki, who costs $1,500 a week, and another around a Birkin mugging.—
Elise Taylor,
Vanity Fair,
11 May 2026
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An immigrant delivery man bashed unconscious during a botched four-on-one Manhattan mugging died of his injuries months later, cops said Sunday.—
Rebecca White,
New York Daily News,
15 Feb. 2026
Noun
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No random swiping of hands for explosive residue.—
Shane Harris,
The Atlantic,
27 Apr. 2026
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Even things that used to require a brief in-person conversation with a human being—signing in at the doctor’s office or ordering a coffee—require tapping, swiping, and scanning.—
Francesca Krempa,
Bon Appetit Magazine,
10 Mar. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Theft.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/theft. Accessed 8 Jun. 2026.
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