Synonyms of thief

thief

noun

ˈthēf 

as in robber

one who steals

a thief has been stealing wallets and valuables from the lockers at the gym

Synonyms & Similar Words

• robber
• burglar
• kidnapper
• stealer
• pirate
• smuggler
• pincher
• bandit
• hijacker
• housebreaker
• embezzler
• pickpocket
• pilferer
• kleptomaniac
• larcenist
• safecracker
• purloiner
• shoplifter
• grafter
• picklock
• cat burglar
• plunderer
• looter
• cracksman
• highwayman
• cutpurse
• klepto
• abductor
• sneak thief
• carjacker
• ravisher
• pillager
• rustler
• footpad
• skyjacker
• poacher
• mugger
• despoiler
• dip
• ransacker

Example Sentences

Recent Examples of thief

The thieves then snatched the paintings and fled through the museum’s gardens—the whole heist took place in under three minutes. — News Desk, Artforum, 17 Aug. 2026

In August 2024, thieves raided a Union Pacific train stopped on Chicago’s West Side, taking TVs and other electronics and loading them into waiting vehicles even after overmatched police arrived. — Kiel Porter, Fortune, 17 Aug. 2026

In this particular instance, the thieves had swapped out two RTX 5080 GPUs for a pair of RTX 3060 cards. — Jon Martindale, PC Magazine, 17 Aug. 2026

While the Sicilian city of Messina celebrated its most important religious summer holiday, thieves carried out a heist at the regional museum, making off with several works by Renaissance painter Antonello da Messina. — Miranda Jeyaretnam, Time, 17 Aug. 2026