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
Such calls are also intended to pilfer people's personal information, according to the FTC, which urges anyone to immediately hang up.
—
Mary Cunningham, CBS News, 28 Jan. 2026
Although not many cat owners will want to hear it, increasing numbers of studies indicate that when coyotes come to town and pilfer the odd cat, the survivability of local songbirds goes up markedly.
—Literary Hub, 8 Jan. 2026
As when just standing in the Mingus Quick Stop parking lot and squinting down the street at lifting dust while overhearing from within the most mysterious conversation about missing Little Debbie Honey Buns—not stolen, gradually pilfered, but just missing.
—David Searcy, Harpers Magazine, 30 Dec. 2025
Season 5, meanwhile, has noticeably flattened its ensemble, leaning on simplistic personality traits and pilfering from previous arcs.
—Shirley Li, The Atlantic, 26 Dec. 2025
See All Example Sentences for pilfer
Mary Cunningham, CBS News, 28 Jan. 2026
Although not many cat owners will want to hear it, increasing numbers of studies indicate that when coyotes come to town and pilfer the odd cat, the survivability of local songbirds goes up markedly.
—Literary Hub, 8 Jan. 2026
As when just standing in the Mingus Quick Stop parking lot and squinting down the street at lifting dust while overhearing from within the most mysterious conversation about missing Little Debbie Honey Buns—not stolen, gradually pilfered, but just missing.
—David Searcy, Harpers Magazine, 30 Dec. 2025
Season 5, meanwhile, has noticeably flattened its ensemble, leaning on simplistic personality traits and pilfering from previous arcs.
—Shirley Li, The Atlantic, 26 Dec. 2025
See All Example Sentences for pilfer
Recent Examples of Synonyms for pilfer
steal
Verb
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As part of that rally, James Outman entered for Buxton off the bench and immediately stole a base, which manager Derek Shelton made a point to mention.—
Betsy Helfand,
Twin Cities,
4 Apr. 2026
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Police said suspects entered the building and stole multiple bottles of alcohol and money before fleeing.—
JT Moodee Lockman,
CBS News,
3 Apr. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Pilfer.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/pilfer. Accessed 6 Apr. 2026.
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