thief

noun

ˈthēf How to pronounce thief (audio)
plural thieves ˈthēvz How to pronounce thief (audio)
Synonyms of thief
: one that steals especially stealthily or secretly
also : one who commits theft or larceny

Synonyms of thief

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Examples of thief in a Sentence

A thief took my purse. a thief has been stealing wallets and valuables from the lockers at the gym
Recent Examples on the Web
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.
Larger checks mean higher stakes for fraud Larger checks mean higher stakes for thieves. — Daniel De Visé, USA Today, 5 Sep. 2026 The thieves, Argyriou said, apparently had removed the license plate from the trailer to prevent Flock license plate-reading cameras from tracking it. — Eric Adler, Kansas City Star, 5 Sep. 2026 In 2021, thieves entered Goodland Guns’ former location by cutting a hole in the wall and stole five pistols, four shotguns, and two rifles, according to the federal Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives. — Los Angeles Times, 4 Sep. 2026 The actors first appeared together in 2001 movie Ocean’s 11, in which Clooney’s Danny oversees a group of thieves during an ambitious heist. — Raechal Shewfelt, Entertainment Weekly, 3 Sep. 2026 See All Example Sentences for thief

Word History

Etymology

Middle English theef, from Old English thēof; akin to Old High German diob thief

First Known Use

before the 12th century, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of thief was before the 12th century

Phrases Containing thief

Rhymes for thief

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Browse Nearby Words

thick-witted
thief
thief ant
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Cite this Entry

“Thief.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/thief. Accessed 7 Sep. 2026.

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Kids Definition

Legal Definition

thief

noun
plural thieves
: one who commits theft
Etymology

Old English thēof

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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