purloin

verb
UK: /pɜːˈlɔɪn/
US: /pɝːˈlɔɪn/

  1. To steal something, often in a sneaky or dishonest way.

    1. He did purloin the key from her desk drawer easily.
    2. The thief attempted to purloin the painting, but the alarm went off too soon.

Synonyms

embezzle pilfer filch appropriate steal
purloin transitive-verb

  1. To take dishonestly; commit theft; steal.

    1. She tried to purloin my lunch from the table.
    2. They managed to purloin several valuable artifacts during the chaos.

Frequently Asked Questions

The phonetic transcription of "purloin" is /pɜːˈlɔɪn/ in British English and /pɝːˈlɔɪn/ in American English. Click the 🔊 button to hear both pronunciations.

Synonyms for "purloin": embezzle, pilfer, filch, appropriate, steal.

Example usage of "purloin": "He did purloin the key from her desk drawer easily.". More examples on the page.