Definitions

from The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, 5th Edition.

  • adjective Given to thieving.
  • adjective Of, similar to, or characteristic of a thief; furtive.

from The Century Dictionary.

  • Addicted to, concerned in, or characterized by thievery; pertaining in any manner to theft.
  • Stealthy; furtive; secret; sly.

from the GNU version of the Collaborative International Dictionary of English.

  • adjective Given to stealing; addicted to theft.
  • adjective Like a thief; acting by stealth; sly; secret.
  • adjective Partaking of the nature of theft; accomplished by stealing; dishonest.

from Wiktionary, Creative Commons Attribution/Share-Alike License.

  • adjective Having a tendency to steal
  • adjective Having the manner of a thief; furtive

from WordNet 3.0 Copyright 2006 by Princeton University. All rights reserved.

  • adjective given to thievery

Etymologies

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Examples

  • Commission head Aleksandr Gurov said Ryabov called the articles on the expenditure of regional offices "thievish" and called federal and regional authorities "the subjects of theft."

    Radio Free Europe / Radio Liberty 2010

  • It looked to Kellen as if the Centaur had been up to his old thievish tricks again, and this time he'd had the poor judgment to try robbing a bee-tree when the bees were all at home.

    Tran Siberian Michael J. Solender 2010

  • So all we got was what was in that one keep—and mine is half spent already, for the merchants here are a thievish lot.

    Wildfire Sarah Micklem 2009

  • So all we got was what was in that one keep—and mine is half spent already, for the merchants here are a thievish lot.

    Wildfire Sarah Micklem 2009

  • So all we got was what was in that one keep—and mine is half spent already, for the merchants here are a thievish lot.

    Wildfire Sarah Micklem 2009

  • If they are part of the same family unit, the antelope may belong to both of them regardless of who killed it, and Hilzoy may be considered immoral or thievish if she doesn't give Mona at least half.

    Libertarianism and philosophy: some old comments Doctor Science 2008

  • If they are part of the same family unit, the antelope may belong to both of them regardless of who killed it, and Hilzoy may be considered immoral or thievish if she doesn't give Mona at least half.

    Archive 2008-12-01 Doctor Science 2008

  • The county issued the bonds, in order to subscribe for stock in a thievish railroad, the Pittsburgh and Erie.

    A History of American Law Lawrence M. Friedman 1985

  • The county issued the bonds, in order to subscribe for stock in a thievish railroad, the Pittsburgh and Erie.

    A History of American Law Lawrence M. Friedman 1985

  • The county issued the bonds, in order to subscribe for stock in a thievish railroad, the Pittsburgh and Erie.

    A History of American Law Lawrence M. Friedman 1985

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