pilfer
verb (used with or without object)
to steal, especially in small quantities.
pilfers
-
present tense formof pilfer (3rd person singular).present tense
Used to describe things happening now or regularly.
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.
Website publishers, particularly media outlets, say that AI pilfers their content without compensation to feed its models.
From Barron's ● Jan. 28, 2026
Locals in the town of Munnar, near Padayappa's habitat, call him a "gentle giant" who has never hurt anyone, even though he occasionally pilfers food from their homes and farms at night.
From BBC ● Feb. 3, 2023
One bonus: She pilfers his sweats, which she finds more comfortable than the versions for women she finds in stores.
From New York Times ● Mar. 28, 2014
And here’s the worst part: If a company ultimately pilfers inventions or trade secrets or anything else from users, it will already be too late.
From Salon ● Jun. 10, 2012
They say that if one thief pilfers from another, the devil laughs.
From Diderot and the Encyclopædists Volume II. by John Morley
