to relieve

Examples

• All

• Now Elmo, baby, I want you to go right over there To Mr Stankey and relieve him of all his money.

  Made in Heaven (1987)

• We have tunnelled into the nearby offices of the Bandit Queen gambling emporium - and relieved it of its treasure.

  The Ladykillers (2004)

• Which you were both going to relieve him of?

  The Oblong Box (1969)

• The Individual had robbed her of life and, tonight, I was going to relieve him of his.

  Franklyn (2008)

• We embrace them and see if we can relieve them of their weapons, you know, while we hide.

  The English Patient (1996)

• The Confederates promptly relieved them of their haversacks and whatever money they had on them.

  Fiction book (1992)

• Pete relieved Carrie of her jug of cider, and they moved toward the house.

  Fiction book (1991)

• The thief managed to relieve the unsuspecting tourist of his wallet before disappearing into the crowd.

• In a daring move, the pirate attempted to relieve the merchant ship of its valuable cargo.

• The con artist sought to relieve the elderly gentleman of his money by posing as a helpful stranger.

Synonyms

S

to steal

vsto relieve

∞ 1.0

Take something that does not belong to you without permission

is used jokingly or in formal speech rather than plain everyday wording

T

to take away

vsto relieve

795 2.3

To remove something from a place or reduce something important, for example a right

is a joking or formal expression for illegal removal rather than ordinary removal

D

to deprive

vsto relieve

198 3.2

To take something important away from someone or stop them having it

is the lighter joking or formal term focusing on illegal taking rather than need

S

to strip

vsto relieve

• Formal

48 5.1

Take away someone's possessions, rights, or honours

is the same idea joked or formal not necessarily linked to official punishment

L

to lift

vsto relieve

• Informal

35 8.1

To steal something secretly from a shop or person

is expressed jokingly or formally rather than focusing on trick-based theft

T

to thieve

vsto relieve

15 4.6

To steal something secretly when no one is looking

is used in joking or formal tone rather than plain criminal description

W

to wrest from

vsto relieve

4 8.7

To force something away from someone after a struggle

is used jokingly or formally rather than implying a violent struggle

D

to despoil

vsto relieve

2 9.3

Steal valuable things and damage a place or person, often by force

is a joking or formal term for theft without strong violence or damage

R

to reave

vsto relieve

• Archaic

1 9.9

To take things by force from people or places, often as loot during war

is the modern humorous or formal wording rather than an old-fashioned violent term

H

to have it away

vsto relieve

• UK

9.9

To secretly steal something

is used jokingly or formally instead of casual or slang wording

D

disappropriation

vsto relieve

• Formal

9.9

Taking something away from the person who owns or uses it

is a lighter joking or formal phrase rather than a strictly legal term

R

to reft

vsto relieve

• Archaic

9.9

To steal something from someone often by force

is a current joking or formal choice instead of this obsolete plundering word

Phrasal Verbs

R

to relieve oneself

• Formal

11 7.5

To pee or poo, usually in a toilet

R

to relieve stress

5 3.5

To make you feel less tense or worried

R

to relieve nature

• Archaic

8.4

To go to the toilet to pee or poo

R

to relieve stress

• Specialized

5.8

To reduce forces inside a metal or glass, usually by heating it

R

to relieve muscle tension

3.7

To make muscles feel less tight or stiff

How Stolen

to plunder

26 6.0

to rob

696 1.2

to steal

∞ 1.0

to relieve

8 8.4

to snatch

136 3.0

to take

∞ 2.8

Surface Forms

Etymology