THIEF: Synonyms and Related Words. What is Another Word for THIEF?

Need another word that means the same as “thief”? Find 12 synonyms and 30 related words for “thief” in this overview.

The synonyms of “Thief” are: stealer, robber, burglar, housebreaker, cat burglar, shoplifter, pickpocket, sneak thief, mugger, larcenist, pilferer, poacher

Thief as a Noun

Definitions of "Thief" as a noun

According to the Oxford Dictionary of English, “thief” as a noun can have the following definitions:

• A criminal who takes property belonging to someone else with the intention of keeping it or selling it.
• A person who steals another person's property, especially by stealth and without using force or threat of violence.

Synonyms of "Thief" as a noun (12 Words)

burglar	A person who commits burglary.
cat burglar	A spiteful woman gossip.
housebreaker	A wrecker of houses. In England a housewrecker is called a housebreaker.
larcenist	The act of taking something from someone unlawfully.
mugger	A person who attacks and robs another in a public place. The mugger snatched my purse and ran away.
pickpocket	A person who steals from people’s pockets.
pilferer	A thief who steals without using violence.
poacher	A cooking vessel designed to poach food (such as fish or eggs. An egg poacher.
robber	A person who commits robbery.
shoplifter	A person who steals goods from a shop while pretending to be a customer. The supermarket had been targeted by shoplifters and looters.
sneak thief	Someone who prowls or sneaks about; usually with unlawful intentions.
stealer	A person or thing that takes or steals a specified thing. A sheep stealer.

Usage Examples of "Thief" as a noun

• Thieves broke into a house on York Close.
• The thief stole the drugs from a doctor's surgery.
• Car thieves.

Associations of "Thief" (30 Words)

bandit	An enemy aircraft. The bandit produced a weapon and demanded money.
brigand	An armed thief who is (usually) a member of a band.
burglar	A person who commits burglary.
burglary	Illegal entry of a building with intent to commit a crime, especially theft. A two year sentence for burglary.
burgle	Enter (a building) illegally with intent to commit a crime, especially theft. Our house in London has been burgled.
criminal	Relating to crime as opposed to civil matters. They are charged with conspiracy to commit criminal damage.
despoil	Steal goods; take as spoils. The church was despoiled of its marble wall covering.
filch	Make off with belongings of others. They filched milk off morning doorsteps.
guilty	Causing a feeling of guilt. A guilty conscience.
kleptomania	A recurrent urge to steal, typically without regard for need or profit.
larceny	Theft of personal property In English law larceny was replaced as a statutory crime by theft in 1968.
outlaw	Declare illegal outlaw. An outlaw strike.
pickpocket	Steal from the pockets of (someone. I think someone pickpocketed me in Brighton on my way to the station.
pillage	Rob a (place) using violence, especially in wartime. Rebellious peasants intent on pillage.
piracy	A practice similar to piracy but in other contexts especially hijacking. Software piracy.
rapine	The violent seizure of someone’s property. Industrial rapine.
recidivist	Relating to recidivists. Research reveals that murderers are less likely to be recidivist than other criminals.
rob	Steal. She was robbed of her handbag.
robber	A person who commits robbery.
robbery	Unashamed swindling or overcharging. He was involved in drugs extortion and robbery.
rustler	Someone who steals livestock (especially cattle. The cattle rustlers stole over 700 cattle.
shoplift	Steal goods from a shop while pretending to be a customer. He was spotted shoplifting at the supermarket near his home.
shoplifting	The act of stealing goods that are on display in a store. She had convictions for shoplifting.
steal	Move stealthily. New York s biggest art steal.
theft	The act of taking something from someone unlawfully. He was convicted of theft.
thieve	Be a thief; steal something. The students have been thieving my favourite art books.
thievery	The act of taking something from someone unlawfully. Petty thievery.
transgression	The action of going beyond or overstepping some boundary or limit. Few ministers now stand down because of sexual transgressions.
unlawful	Not conforming to legality, moral law, or social convention. Unlawful measures.
vagrancy	The state of wandering from place to place; having no permanent home or means of livelihood. A descent into vagrancy and drug abuse.