Skip to main content
graverobber

graverobber

1 9.4
A person who takes bodies or valuable things from graves without permission to sell
  • noun
  • /ˈɡreɪvˌrɒbər/
  • NSFW
translation icon : ladrón de tumbas
  • The police arrested a group of graverobbers after they were caught digging up a cemetery.

Examples

  • - Graverobbers, huh?

  • It says "Graverobbers From Outer Space." ED "Graverobbers From Outer Space!"

    Fiction book (1994)
  • - They were just graverobbers.

  • Graverobbers from what? ED From outer space!

    Fiction book (1994)
  • Graverobber.

  • It says "Graverobbers From Outer Space." ED "Graverobbers From Outer Space!"

    Fiction book (1994)
  • "Pardon me, when you say open graves, it does suggest graverobbers at work—the bodies inside are sadly exposed.

    Fiction book (1991)
  • "Just offhand, I'd guess our intrepid graverobbers were probably after Scot's masterbook of spells."

    Fiction book (1991)
  • As he advanced cautiously toward the wavering wards the graverobbers had left, he casually withdrew his hands from his pockets, keeping the lodestone palmed where Kerr would not be able to see it.

    Fiction book (1991)
  • The documentary highlighted the illegal activities of graverobbers who stole valuable artifacts from ancient tombs.

Synonyms

body snatcher
vsgraverobber
  • NSFW
3 9.9

A person who steals dead bodies from graves to sell to medical schools for study

can also mean stealing valuables from graves not only selling bodies
ghoul
vsgraverobber
  • NSFW
1 9.9

A person who digs up graves to sell bodies

is the more general term and also covers taking valuables
resurrectionist
vsgraverobber
  • NSFW
1 9.9

A person who illegally digs up dead bodies to sell to doctors for study

also covers taking valuables from graves not only selling bodies
resurrection man
vsgraverobber
  • NSFW
9.9

A person who steals dead bodies from graves to sell them to doctors

is broader covering any illegal removal or sale of grave contents

How Illegal

graverobber
  • NSFW
1 9.4
pothunter
  • NSFW
1 9.9
looter
43 5.3
raider
29 5.1

Surface Forms

graverobber singular
graverobbers plural

Morphology

graverobber = graverob (transparent) = grave + rob + er

The word 'graverobber' is transparently derived from the verb 'graverob' with the addition of the agentive suffix '-er'.

Etymology

The word graverobber is made from grave 'tomb' and robber 'one who steals', so picture someone taking things from a grave. In the past, graverobbers sometimes sold stolen bodies to doctors, which is why the word means a person who illegally takes bodies or valuables from graves.