student asking question

What's the main difference between a "thief", "robber" and "burglar"? Are they all interchangeable?

teacher

Native speaker’s answer

Rebecca

Depending on the context, they could be interchangeable. But, they all have slightly different nuances. A "thief" is anyone who steals. "Thief" is the broadest term and could apply to "robber" or "burglar". A "robber" usually uses violence or force when they steal something, such as having a gun and telling people what to do when robbing a bank. A "burglar" is someone who breaks into a house or trespasses to steal or cause damage. Ex: Did you catch the thief who stole my wallet? Ex: Our neighbors had a burglary last night. Ex: The robber pulled out a weapon and told me to give him the cash! I was so scared.

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