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plural thieves
ˈthēvz
: one that steals especially stealthily or secretly
also
: one who commits theft or larceny
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
Statewide, after national media for years showed images of thieves ransacking drug stores, Californians approved a ballot measure that tightened penalties on theft.
—Julia Prodis Sulek, The Mercury News, 7 Nov. 2024
Others, such as the Dickensian gang of thieves that briefly take George in, feel like they might have been airlifted in from a collegiate production of Oliver Twist.
—David Fear, Rolling Stone, 1 Nov. 2024
Now the lone-wolf jewel thief is looking for that fabled final last score and Lou breaks all the rules of Crime 101.
—Katcy Stephan, Variety, 1 Nov. 2024
The company is working with law enforcement authorities to identify the cheese thieves.
—Kc Baker, People.com, 30 Oct. 2024
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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
Articles Related to thief
Dictionary Entries Near thief
Cite this Entry
“Thief.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/thief. Accessed 22 Nov. 2024.
Legal Definition
thief
noun
plural thieves
: one who commits theft
Etymology
Old English thēof
More from Merriam-Webster on thief
Nglish: Translation of thief for Spanish Speakers
Britannica English: Translation of thief for Arabic Speakers
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