1
as in robbery
the unlawful taking and carrying away of property without the consent of its owner
while violent crime in the city has decreased dramatically, rates of theft and vandalism have risen slightly
Synonyms & Similar Words
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Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of theft
Mayweather argues that Showtime should’ve been aware of the theft because Haymon, who’s not named in the complaint, wasn’t behaving like a typical manager.
—
Winston Cho, HollywoodReporter, 4 Feb. 2026
Many focused less on the theft and more on the dogs’ apparent teamwork — and their total lack of guilt.
—Ashley Vega, PEOPLE, 4 Feb. 2026
The thefts have downed power lines, roiled phone and internet service and disrupted communication to emergency services throughout affected communities.
—Sam Blum, New York Times, 4 Feb. 2026
After weeks of investigating, authorities discovered a pattern of distraction thefts across California.
—Ryanne Mena, Oc Register, 4 Feb. 2026
See All Example Sentences for theft
Winston Cho, HollywoodReporter, 4 Feb. 2026
Many focused less on the theft and more on the dogs’ apparent teamwork — and their total lack of guilt.
—Ashley Vega, PEOPLE, 4 Feb. 2026
The thefts have downed power lines, roiled phone and internet service and disrupted communication to emergency services throughout affected communities.
—Sam Blum, New York Times, 4 Feb. 2026
After weeks of investigating, authorities discovered a pattern of distraction thefts across California.
—Ryanne Mena, Oc Register, 4 Feb. 2026
See All Example Sentences for theft
Recent Examples of Synonyms for theft
Noun
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Wilcox has a prior criminal history that includes convictions in Nebraska for Hobbs Act robbery, use of a weapon during a violent crime, and the armed robbery of an armored car, as well as convictions for bank robbery in Iowa and various other financial offenses, according to court documents.—
Robert A. Cronkleton,
Kansas City Star,
11 Feb. 2026
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Keith Brown, 58, was charged with first-degree murder, three counts of first-degree robbery and several other crimes, local Fox affiliate KTVI reported.—
Joseph Wilkinson,
New York Daily News,
11 Feb. 2026
Noun
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Many Londoners have firsthand experience of phone-snatching or have witnessed the surge in shoplifting documented by the Office for National Statistics.—
CNN Money,
CNN Money,
13 Jan. 2026
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Polls show that Londoners broadly feel safe in their town, although property theft, particularly phone snatching and shoplifting, has leapt up in recent years.—
Tim McDonnell,
semafor.com,
13 Jan. 2026
Noun
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Forty-eight percent of employees surveyed with toxic bosses highlight credit-stealing as a main offense.—
Chris Lipp,
Forbes.com,
29 Jan. 2026
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Correa was the most vocal Astro to defend their title after the sign-stealing was discovered.—
Assistant Sports Editor,
Los Angeles Times,
22 Jan. 2026
Noun
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Poll results from Japanese outlet NHK showed that the risk paid off, with the LDP winning 316 seats out of the 465 up for grabs in the House, well above the 233 needed for a simply majority.—
Zach LaChance,
The Washington Examiner,
8 Feb. 2026
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Look for containers to house baking supplies, grab-and-go snacks, breakfast items, seasoning mixes, and hard-to-organize spice packets.—
Patricia Shannon,
Better Homes & Gardens,
8 Feb. 2026
Noun
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Staged to look like a random mugging of a courier, the robbery was, in fact, a sophisticated heist that would ultimately involve the Provisional IRA, the New York mafia and the Colombian cartel.—
Jesse Whittock,
Deadline,
9 Oct. 2025
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The mugging of his early selfies has vanished.—
David Kamp,
New Yorker,
4 Oct. 2025
Noun
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Don’t sit too close to this one — the quick swiping through bodycam and cellphone footage on a huge screen is migraine-inducing.—
Katie Walsh,
Los Angeles Times,
23 Jan. 2026
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Don’t sit too close to this one — the quick swiping through bodycam and cellphone footage on an IMAX screen is migraine-inducing.—
Katie Walsh,
Boston Herald,
22 Jan. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Theft.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/theft. Accessed 15 Feb. 2026.
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