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.
For more than a week, there wasn’t much news or fanfare that thieves stole more than 40,000 pounds of Milwaukee-founded Pabst Blue Ribbon, or PBR, beer from a Montclair distribution center. — Andrew J. Campa, Los Angeles Times, 30 Aug. 2026 European museums have been hit by a series of spectacular thefts since thieves in October broke into the Louvre museum in Paris in broad daylight, escaping in less than eight minutes with jewelry worth $102 million. — CBS News, 28 Aug. 2026 In 2003, Benvenuto Cellini’s gold-and-enamel Saliera, then valued at roughly €50 million ($58 million), was stolen from Vienna’s Kunsthistorisches Museum by a thief who climbed scaffolding and entered through a window. — Daniel Cassady, ARTnews.com, 28 Aug. 2026 The thieves wore no disguises or face coverings according to a report by Vienna’s police department. — News Desk, Artforum, 28 Aug. 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 1 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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