as in to steal
to take (something) without right and with an intent to keep
what sort of person would pilfer lunches from the office refrigerator?
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Recent Examples of pilfer
The result has been crumbs thrown our way while Google continues pilfering.
—
Mercury News & East Bay Times Editorial, Mercury News, 10 June 2025
Van Auker found a painting hanging in the couple’s primary bedroom that turned out to be Willem de Kooning’s 1955 Woman-Ochre, which had been pilfered from the University of Arizona Museum of Art in November 1985.
—Sarah Kuta, Smithsonian Magazine, 10 June 2025
Once upon a time, swashbuckling pirates patrolled the high seas, pilfering valuables from individuals, companies, and governments alike.
—Michael Ashley, Forbes.com, 30 May 2025
Those words spoke to a long tradition of Creole men pilfering the privileges of whiteness in America.
—Darryl Barthé, Chicago Tribune, 25 May 2025
See All Example Sentences for pilfer
Mercury News & East Bay Times Editorial, Mercury News, 10 June 2025
Van Auker found a painting hanging in the couple’s primary bedroom that turned out to be Willem de Kooning’s 1955 Woman-Ochre, which had been pilfered from the University of Arizona Museum of Art in November 1985.
—Sarah Kuta, Smithsonian Magazine, 10 June 2025
Once upon a time, swashbuckling pirates patrolled the high seas, pilfering valuables from individuals, companies, and governments alike.
—Michael Ashley, Forbes.com, 30 May 2025
Those words spoke to a long tradition of Creole men pilfering the privileges of whiteness in America.
—Darryl Barthé, Chicago Tribune, 25 May 2025
See All Example Sentences for pilfer
Recent Examples of Synonyms for pilfer
steal
Verb
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Famous for alleging Mark Zuckerberg stole their idea for Facebook, the twins donated 15.47 Bitcoin apiece, worth $1 million each at the time, to Donald Trump’s 2024 campaign, citing issues with the Biden administration's approach toward cryptocurrency in a June 2024 post on X by Tyler Winklevoss.—
Thomas Gallagher,
Forbes.com,
15 July 2025
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However, the location of the guitar has remained a mystery since September 1971, having been reportedly stolen during the band’s recording sessions for 1972’s Exile on Main St. at Villa Nellcôte on France’s Côte d’Azur.—
Tyler Jenke,
Billboard,
15 July 2025
Cite this Entry
“Pilfer.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/pilfer. Accessed 19 Jul. 2025.
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