heists 1 of 2

noun

plural of heist
as in thefts
an instance of theft it was the largest jewelry heist in the city's history

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heists

2 of 2

verb

present tense third-person singular of heist
as in steals
to take (something) without right and with an intent to keep a professional burglar was able to heist a box of jewelry from the safe in the closet

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

Example Sentences

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.
Recent Examples of heists
Noun
The theft comes as Europol warned that museum heists are becoming increasingly aggressive, with criminals targeting high-value cultural objects and using more violent tactics. — George Nelson, ARTnews.com, 28 Aug. 2026 The almost 27-minute-long trailer features a whirlwind of gameplay to expect at launch in November, including car chases, heists, and robberies, plus various side missions such as scuba diving, weightlifting, and maybe even backyard wrestling. — Michael Kan, PC Magazine, 28 Aug. 2026 After at least 20 heists in Florida, a trio suspected of stealing family heirlooms and other valuables from cemeteries is now in custody. — Rylan Digiacomo-Rapp, The Orlando Sentinel, 20 Aug. 2026 More than a dozen major art heists have been recorded since January 2025 alone – prompting the International Council of Museums to team up with Interpol in response. — Willem Marx, NPR, 16 Aug. 2026 The crime followed a series of high-profile heists at major European museums, including the theft in October of French crown jewels and other items worth 88 million euros ($101 million) from the Louvre in Paris. — ABC News, 14 Aug. 2026 The crime followed a series of high-profile heists at major European museums, including the theft of French crown jewels and other items from the Louvre in Paris. — CBS News, 14 Aug. 2026 Point Break wasn’t all bank heists and surfing — according to Lori Petty, there was also some behind-the-scenes ballet. — Shania Russell, Entertainment Weekly, 2 Aug. 2026 While the subject matter shifted from bank robberies to art heists, the essence of the character as an effortlessly cool, independent wealthy titan of industry who stole for the thrill of it remained the same. — Christian Zilko, IndieWire, 29 July 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for heists
  1. thefts
  2. steals
  3. swipes
Noun
  • In the same time, shootings plunged 48%, robberies 35% and car thefts 20% — and those levels have generally improved or held this year.
    — Jake Sheridan, Chicago Tribune, 31 Aug. 2026
  • Fortune reported on the tactic a decade ago, when fraud accounted for roughly one in 10 cargo thefts, and food was the most attractive target, since it can be resold through unscrupulous distributors with no serial numbers to trace.
    — Catherina Gioino, Fortune, 31 Aug. 2026
Definition of thefts
Verb
  • Jealousy and entitlement steer the actions of middling white writer June Hayward, who brazenly steals the manuscript of her much more talented friend, Chinese-American author, Athena Liu, after being the sole witness to Athena’s death.
    — Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 2 Sep. 2026
  • And, if the wins keep piling up, San Dimas might need to put a fence around his classroom so no one steals him away.
    — Eric Sondheimer, Los Angeles Times, 29 Aug. 2026
Definition of steals
Verb
  • When someone swipes a card, the device can capture account information and the PIN used during the transaction.
    — Kurt Knutsson, FOXNews.com, 24 Aug. 2026
  • Shields' younger daughter inherited her love of fashion and regularly swipes designer pieces from her closet.
    — Francesca Gariano, PEOPLE, 24 June 2026
Definition of swipes

Browse Nearby Words

heisting
heists
held
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Cite this Entry

“Heists.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/heists. Accessed 5 Sep. 2026.

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