prowler
Stealthy nocturnal intruder
A prowler is someone who moves stealthily, typically with sinister intent.
The word usually describes a person lurking around property at night, possibly casing it for burglary or peering through windows: She called the police about a prowler in the backyard.
Animals that hunt by stealth also prowl, making them prowlers of a sort.
Dark hours daily
- darknessTotal absence of light
- shadowLight blocked by object
- moonlightReflected solar radiance, nocturnal
- twilightLight after sunset
dusk · midnight · streetlight · alley · backyard · perimeter · windowsill · bushes
One who breaks in
- trespasserUnlawful entrant on property
- housebreakerOne who breaks in
- thiefOne who steals
- robberOne who steals by force
peeper · creeper · lurker · invader · interloper · sneak · cat-burglar · raider
Stealthy, persistent pursuit
- huntingPursuing wild game
- circlingMoving around a center
- pouncingLeaping to attack
- ambushingSurprise attack from concealment
pursuing · tracking · preying · opportunistic · cunning · patient · watchful · territorial
Moving to avoid detection
- skulkingMoving furtively, covertly
- lurkingConcealed and watchful
- creepingMoving slowly, stealthily
- slinkingMoving with furtive stealth
furtive · covert · clandestine · silent · shadowy · ghostly · unseen · hidden
Conveying threat or danger
- sinisterThreateningly suggestive of harm
- ominousSuggesting something bad approaches
- dangerousApt to cause harm
- predatoryExploiting the vulnerable
intimidating · alarming · suspicious · hostile · aggressive · frightening · scary · malevolent
night
Dark hours daily
- darknessTotal absence of light
- shadowLight blocked by object
- moonlightReflected solar radiance, nocturnal
twilight · dusk · midnight · streetlight · alley · backyard · perimeter · windowsill · bushes · hedge
burglar
One who breaks in
- trespasserUnlawful entrant on property
- housebreakerOne who breaks in
- thiefOne who steals
robber · peeper · creeper · lurker · invader · interloper · sneak · cat-burglar · raider · looter
stalking
Stealthy, persistent pursuit
ambushing · pursuing · tracking · preying · opportunistic · cunning · patient · watchful · territorial · nocturnal
sneaking
Moving to avoid detection
slinking · furtive · covert · clandestine · silent · shadowy · ghostly · unseen · hidden · camouflaged
menacing
Conveying threat or danger
- sinisterThreateningly suggestive of harm
- ominousSuggesting something bad approaches
- dangerousApt to cause harm
predatory · intimidating · alarming · suspicious · hostile · aggressive · frightening · scary · malevolent · foreboding
- mysterious figuresenigma, phantom, shadowy figure, mysterious stranger, mystery man
- stealthsneak, ninja, creep, spy, skulk
- burglaryburglar, housebreaking, break-in, home invasion, intruder
- criminalsmurderer, thief, burglar, criminal, killer
- police slangperp, collar, bust, APB, BOLO
- attackersaggressor, assailant, attacker, assaulter, ambusher
prowlerresident
One who inhabits
homeowner · tenant · occupant · property owner · host
prowlersecurity guard
Hired protector of property
night watchman · police · law enforcement · watchman · patrolman
- on the prowlSearching for prey
- night prowlerOne active after dark
- prowl carPolice patrol vehicle