as in stealing
to take (something) without right and with an intent to keep
someone's been thieving my cookies!
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Recent Examples of thieving
The Epic of Gilgamesh, composed about 4,000 years ago, follows a king who searches the world for a plant that can restore youth, only to lose the plant to a thieving snake.
—
Will Gottsegen, The Atlantic, 20 Feb. 2026
The new restaurant will expand upon the whimsical backstory of Crafty Coyote — the pie-thieving crook from the nearby Knott’s Bear-y Farm dark ride who has given up his outlaw ways to open the new eatery next door.
—Brady MacDonald, Oc Register, 27 Jan. 2026
Females are turning out in droves to see the third installment in the long-dormant franchise about a group of thieving magicians, buying up 54 percent of all tickets sold so far.
—Pamela McClintock, HollywoodReporter, 15 Nov. 2025
Despite mixed reviews, the first two films about the thieving illusionists known as the Four Horseman were commercial successes; the original grossed $350 million while the sequel generated $334 million.
—Rebecca Rubin, Variety, 12 Nov. 2025
From the producers of John Wick, which should surprise no one, Violent Night stars David Harbour as a particularly murderous Santa Claus defending an estate against a team of thieving mercenaries who break in, take the family hostage, and slay the house staff on Christmas Eve.
—Brooke Knisley, Vulture, 6 Dec. 2024
Will Gottsegen, The Atlantic, 20 Feb. 2026
The new restaurant will expand upon the whimsical backstory of Crafty Coyote — the pie-thieving crook from the nearby Knott’s Bear-y Farm dark ride who has given up his outlaw ways to open the new eatery next door.
—Brady MacDonald, Oc Register, 27 Jan. 2026
Females are turning out in droves to see the third installment in the long-dormant franchise about a group of thieving magicians, buying up 54 percent of all tickets sold so far.
—Pamela McClintock, HollywoodReporter, 15 Nov. 2025
Despite mixed reviews, the first two films about the thieving illusionists known as the Four Horseman were commercial successes; the original grossed $350 million while the sequel generated $334 million.
—Rebecca Rubin, Variety, 12 Nov. 2025
From the producers of John Wick, which should surprise no one, Violent Night stars David Harbour as a particularly murderous Santa Claus defending an estate against a team of thieving mercenaries who break in, take the family hostage, and slay the house staff on Christmas Eve.
—Brooke Knisley, Vulture, 6 Dec. 2024
Recent Examples of Synonyms for thieving
stealing
Verb
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Since first taking place in the 1940s, cloud seeding experiments have raised concern over potential environmental and ecological risks and stoked regional security tensions, with countries accusing each other of stealing rain.—
Sam Meredith,
CNBC,
24 Feb. 2026
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On June 16, 1986, Langford was selling some of the last of her inventory when a crack addict named Melvin Trotter walked into Langford's Grocery Store and started stealing from the cash register.—
Amanda Lee Myers,
USA Today,
24 Feb. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Thieving.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/thieving. Accessed 28 Feb. 2026.
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