robber
Masked money-taker
A robber is someone who steals through force or threat of force.
Unlike a thief, who may steal secretly, a robber confronts victims directly: The robbers held up the bank.
The term extends to anything that takes unfairly: These fees are highway robbery.
A robber baron was a ruthless 19th-century industrialist who amassed wealth through exploitative practices.
One who steals
- burglarOne who breaks in
- muggerOne who robs violently
- pickpocketThief who steals carried items
- shoplifterOne who steals merchandise
looter · pilferer · snatcher · kleptomaniac · safecracker · cat-burglar · prowler · intruder
Armed robber, often rural
- highwaymanMounted thief targeting travelers
- outlawFugitive from justice
- desperadoBold, reckless outlaw
- marauderOne who raids for loot
raider · pillager · plunderer · footpad · freebooter · rustler · bushwhacker · road-agent
Secure storage chamber
- getawaySwift departure or retreat
- safecrackerOne who breaks vaults
- accompliceCrime's willing helper
- mastermindScheme's chief planner
lookout · driver · insider · blueprints · alarm · security · disguise · mask
Take without permission
- pilferSneak off with trifles
- mugHandled cup for beverages
- burglarizeUnlawfully enter to steal
- lootStolen valuables
plunder · ransack · snatch · grab · hold-up · stick-up · armed · threaten
Caribbean colonial-era pirate
- corsairPirate or pirate ship
- privateerAuthorized civilian warship
- pirateMaritime thief or bootlegger
- swashbucklerDaring, flamboyant swordsman
seafarer · plunderer · raider · treasure · ship · boarding · cutlass · smuggler
thief
One who steals
- burglarOne who breaks in
- muggerOne who robs violently
- pickpocketThief who steals carried items
shoplifter · looter · pilferer · snatcher · kleptomaniac · safecracker · cat-burglar · prowler · intruder · carjacker
brigand
Armed robber, often rural
- highwaymanMounted thief targeting travelers
- outlawFugitive from justice
- desperadoBold, reckless outlaw
marauder · raider · pillager · plunderer · footpad · freebooter · rustler · bushwhacker · road-agent · stagecoach
vault
Secure storage chamber
- getawaySwift departure or retreat
- safecrackerOne who breaks vaults
- accompliceCrime's willing helper
mastermind · lookout · driver · insider · blueprints · alarm · security · disguise · mask · gloves
steal
Take without permission
- pilferSneak off with trifles
- mugHandled cup for beverages
- burglarizeUnlawfully enter to steal
loot · plunder · ransack · snatch · grab · hold-up · stick-up · armed · threaten · demand
buccaneer
Caribbean colonial-era pirate
swashbuckler · seafarer · plunderer · raider · treasure · ship · boarding · cutlass · smuggler · booty
mobster
Organized crime member
hitman · enforcer · kingpin · boss · henchman · syndicate · mafia · organized · bootlegger · extortionist
target
Object of pursuit
tourist · traveler · merchant · bank · store · business · pedestrian · motorist · commuter
- lawbreakersthief, burglar, vandal, smuggler, arsonist
- Outlawsoutlaw, bandit, desperado, highwayman, rustler
- Plundererslooter, marauder, pillager, plunderer, raider
- roguesrogue, rogues, scoundrel, scoundrels, rascal
- rule breakersrulebreaker, transgressor, violator, offender, lawbreaker
- thievesthief, burglar, pickpocket, shoplifter, cat burglar
robberdonor
One who contributes freely
giver · philanthropist · benefactor · gift-giver · contributor
- robbing blindStealing everything from someone
- cops and robbersChildren's game of chase
- bank robberOne who steals from vaults
- bank robberyTheft from financial institution
- armed robberyTheft with weapon threat
- highway robberyOutrageously excessive charge
robbery, robbed, robbing, robbers, robberies, robber baron, robber barons, robber-baron