to pilfer
16
6.5
- verb
- /ˈpɪlfər/
:
hurtar
- Take a bribe, pocket a bundle, pilfer cash.
He goes, my wife pilfered all those accounts.
- He goes, my wife pilfered all those accounts.
Examples
-
You can't blame them for pilfering the henhouse.
-
...this criminal was caught in the scullery pilfering royal supplies.
-
And now we just pilfer and drink and dream about when we didn't.
-
In my teenage years, I used a pocketknife to pilfer a chocolate bar from a vending machine.
Blog text (14) -
Raiders pilfered what they could and destroyed the rest, undercutting Georgians' means of supporting the war effort.
Academic text (2014) -
He'd become quite adept at pilfering—if not always at what to pilfer.
Fiction book (1990) -
Pilate wants to build an aqueduct, but he's afraid to ask for funds, so he's pilfering the temple treasury.
-
The store owner noticed someone pilfering candy from the shelf.
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During the summer camp, kids would often pilfer small snacks from the kitchen.
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He admitted to pilfering a few coins from his father's change jar.
Synonyms
∞
1.0
Take something that does not belong to you without permission
699
2.8
To move or take something quietly so others do not notice
79
6.3
To steal something quickly without the owner knowing
58
8.4
To steal small things from someone's pocket or bag
49
5.5
To take something quickly without the owner noticing
35
8.1
To steal something secretly from a shop or person
34
8.0
Steal something small, often of little value
19
9.0
Take something without permission, often quickly
7
8.4
Steal things, for example electronics or cars
4
9.6
To steal something secretly or dishonestly
4
8.4
To steal a small thing quietly when no one is looking
3
9.1
To steal something, especially quickly in a crowded place
2
8.0
To steal something quickly and secretly
1
9.9
To take something quickly, often without permission
1
9.9
To steal small things in a sneaky way
To steal small items, especially money, from someone's pocket or bag without them noticing
British informal word for stealing someone else's things
Antonyms
How Serious
Surface Forms
Etymology
Pilfer comes from old words for 'loot' or 'booty' and is related to the idea in pillage of taking goods. So, a helpful way to remember it is to think of quietly taking small bits of 'loot'—to pilfer is to steal little things, often again and again.