burglar

[bur-gler] / ˈbɜr glər /

NOUN

person who steals

Synonyms

STRONGEST

crook robber thief

STRONG

housebreaker owl pilferer prowler safecracker

WEAK

cat burglar filcher midnighter picklock porch climber sneakthief

Frequently Asked Questions

What is another name for a burglar?

The word burglar specifically refers to someone who commits burglary—the crime of breaking into a place to steal things. A burglar is sometimes called a prowler. A particularly stealthy and skilled burglar is sometimes called a cat burglar. Antiquated words for burglar include housebreaker, sneakthief, and picklock. A burglar is a kind of thief, but the word thief is much more general. A house that has been burglarized can be said to have been robbed, but the word robber typically refers to someone who steals by using force, violence, or threats of force or violence. A person who specifically steals hamburgers is called a hamburglar.

What words are related to burglar?

The crime that a burglar commits is called burglary. In the US, the verb burglarize is used. In the UK, the verb is burgle. The adjective antiburglary is sometimes used to describe something designed to prevent burglaries, such as bars on windows or a burglar alarm (an electronic security system). A house with such things might be said to be burglarproof. The much rarer adjective burglarious means “pertaining to or involving burglary.”

How do you spell burglar?

Unlike a lot of words that refer to a person who performs a specific action (robber, farmer), burglar ends not in -er or -or but in -ar. The ending likely traces back to Latin origins, probably the verb burgāre, meaning “to thieve.”

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

Then, while their heads were turned, a car burglar gave them another reason to grieve, prosecutors say.

From Los Angeles Times

Some burglars have reportedly stolen more than $200,000 worth of valuables from a home in Mandeville Canyon and another group is alleged to have stolen an Emmy award from an Altadena home.

From Los Angeles Times

A journalist who spent two weeks living with Tony Martin said he never heard any indication the farmer was remorseful about shooting dead a teenage burglar.

From BBC

Authorities made the haul after executing search warrants throughout Northern and Central California, recovering items police say were stolen by a sophisticated ring of burglars who targeted Bay Area Asian American households.

From Los Angeles Times

Last week, Los Angeles Police Chief Jim McDonnell said his officers caught a suspected burglar in the Palisades fire zone who was dressed as a firefighter.

From Los Angeles Times

burglar

Frequently Asked Questions

Example Sentences

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