SHOPLIFTING Synonyms: 79 Similar and Opposite Words

shoplifting 1 of 2

noun

as in pilfering

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shoplifting

2 of 2

verb

present participle of shoplift

as in poaching

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Dissimilar Words

Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

Recent Examples of shoplifting

Noun

The huge crowds were stressful for police, who ended up working longer shifts than usual to deal with traffic, accidents, shoplifting and other issues. — Arthur Zaczkiewicz, Footwear News, 5 Oct. 2026 Chicago authorities later arrested Medina-Medina on a shoplifting charge. — Kaelan Deese, The Washington Examiner, 1 Oct. 2026 Authorities say the two men were eventually linked to 41 felony shoplifting incidents between August 2022 and June 2023. — Dan Raby, CBS News, 18 Sep. 2026 Officers who responded to a shoplifting call encountered two adults allegedly fleeing from the store with a child and going into a vehicle, according to bureau. — Tesfaye Negussie, ABC News, 3 Sep. 2026 The police chief of a Mississippi city where 1-year-old Kohen Wiley was shot and killed by police responding to a shoplifting call in June was fired Tuesday. — Sophie Bates, Los Angeles Times, 2 Sep. 2026 However, a man of the same name and age has drug and shoplifting convictions in Yavapai County, possession of contraband behind bars in Navajo and Graham Counties, and a number of lesser charges in Prescott. — Michael Ruiz, FOXNews.com, 24 Aug. 2026 In about a quarter of them, 62 cases, soldiers single-handedly stopped people suspected of a crime, often for things like shoplifting or jumping turnstiles to avoid paying subway fare. — Brad Heath, USA Today, 19 Aug. 2026 Most recently, a 2024 Seminole County Sheriff’s Office investigation accusing Singh of shoplifting was resurfaced by Walton Johnson’s supporters, despite no criminal case ever being filed. — Cristóbal Reyes, The Orlando Sentinel, 19 Aug. 2026

Recent Examples of Synonyms for shoplifting

Noun

In the second novel of the Amina al-Sirafi fantasy series, Chakraborty sets her pirate protagonist out onto the high seas for some perilous pilfering after being dragged into her partner’s problems.

— Erik Pedersen, Oc Register, 8 May 2026

Definition of pilfering

Noun

In May, Tony Carruthers, who was convicted of kidnapping and murdering three people in 1994, was not executed because officials could not find a suitable vein for an IV line, so the drugs were not administered.

— Landon Mion, FOXNews.com, 2 Oct. 2026
Singh previously pleaded guilty to numerous charges, including murder for hire, kidnapping and causing the death of a person through the use of a firearm during a crime of violence, federal prosecutors said in the news release.

— Angie DiMichele, Sun Sentinel, 2 Oct. 2026

Definition of kidnapping

Verb

This speed can be boosted in systems like NGC 362D, in which a neutron star is snatching material from a donor star because that material carries with it angular momentum.

— Robert Lea, Space.com, 2 Oct. 2026
Not just college kids, but Others cheering for Texas’ football team and snatching up Texas’ degrees.

— Candace Buckner, New York Times, 16 Sep. 2026

Definition of snatching

Noun

The Central Criminal Court for Corruption and Misconduct Cases found both men guilty on multiple counts of embezzlement and money laundering.

— ABC News, ABC News, 7 Oct. 2026
Devon Horton, former DeKalb County School District superintendent, pleaded guilty to federal charges of wire fraud, embezzlement and tax evasion Monday morning, Jason Armesto reports.

— Adam Beam, AJC.com, 6 Oct. 2026

Definition of embezzlement

Verb

That 7dBA output is practically inaudible—quieter than rustling leaves (around 20dBA) and well below the 25dBA to 30dBA ambient floor of a quiet library or nighttime bedroom.

— Brian Westover, PC Magazine, 1 Oct. 2026
The brief social media clip features Gizmo rustling around inside a backpack in an indiscernible location.

— Tracy Brown, Los Angeles Times, 24 Sep. 2026

Definition of rustling

Noun

Lanier was charged with Class 2 felonies for the two Oak Lawn burglaries, according to the Cook County circuit court filings.

— Olivia Stevens, Chicago Tribune, 8 Oct. 2026
On July 23, 1973, tragedy rippled through the Mexican American community when 12-year-old Santos Rodriguez was shot and killed by a Dallas police officer who tried to coerce him into confessing to a burglary by playing Russian roulette.

— Alexis Guerrero, CBS News, 8 Oct. 2026

Definition of burglary

Verb

The catalyst was a headline-grabbing second-quarter loss of $154 million that likely sent trading algorithms to hit the sell button.

— Harvey Stober, CNBC, 2 Oct. 2026
Lopez then attacked Hager, grabbing his holster, and the two men fought over the deputy’s service weapon, according to the arrest report.

— David Goodhue, Miami Herald, 2 Oct. 2026

Definition of grabbing

Browse Nearby Words

shoplifters

shoplifting

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Style

“Shoplifting.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/shoplifting. Accessed 9 Oct. 2026.

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Synonyms of shoplifting

noun

verb

Example Sentences

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