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.
In another haul this year, thieves stole six 2026 model Jeep Wranglers from Oakland and Las Vegas. — Steve Fisher special Correspondent follow, Los Angeles Times, 11 Oct. 2026 In the eighteen-seventies, after thieves began kidnapping bank managers, James Sargent invented the first commercially successful time lock. — Shayla Love, New Yorker, 10 Oct. 2026 Raqib Naik, the center’s founder and executive director, said that the team documented an influx of posts portraying South Asians as invaders, job thieves and a demographic threat, evoking Great Replacement theory and remigration rhetoric. — Harmeet Kaur, CNN Money, 10 Oct. 2026 The thieves arrived with two trucks, and the bottles were ripe for the taking as they were already packed and waiting to get shipped to Antinori’s export markets. — Catherina Gioino, Fortune, 9 Oct. 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 14 Oct. 2026.

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Kids Definition

Legal Definition

thief

noun
plural thieves
: one who commits theft
Etymology

Old English thēof

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