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thieve
[theev]
verb (used with object)
to take by theft; steal.
verb (used without object)
to act as a thief; commit theft; steal.
thieve
/ θː /
verb
to steal (someone's possessions)
Other Word Forms
- thievingly adverb
- outthieve verb (used with object)
- ˈٳ𱹱 noun
Word History and Origins
Word History and Origins
Origin of thieve1
Example Sentences
He was shot and stabbed on several occasions and killed a thieving female motel owner who ambushed him.
Nick is bedeviled by his thieving foes, fascinated by them, and now has nothing to lose.
“Learn how to thieve constructively — for the struggle,” Colin scolds him when Tony is naïvely caught up in a bungled shoplifting caper.
Milei, who ran against “thieving politicians,” has run into resistance from Argentina’s combustible Congress, which he calls “the rat’s nest.”
Despite its ethereal vibe, “Riddle of Fire” has minor flares of violence and a central trio who curse, drink and thieve with some regularity.
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When To Use
To thieve is to steal—to commit theft.A person who thieves is a thief. The words thief and theft are often used in situations in which a person steals in secret and without using force or violence. However, the word thieve is used in the context of all kinds of thefts, even violent ones. Thieve often implies that such thieving is done habitually or as part of a criminal lifestyle.The related word thievery can mean the same thing as theft, but it typically refers to the practice of thieving—thieves lead a life of thieving and thievery.Thieve is sometimes followed by the thing that will be or has been stolen, as in I just realized my kids have been thieving the coins from the fountain. Thieve should not be confused with a form of the noun thief or its plural, thieves.Example: He is a pirate, a rogue—he thieves and plunders without remorse.
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