piratical

Meanings

1. 1adjectivenot comparable

   Connected with pirates or their activities, especially robbery at sea.

   Grammar: Usually used before a noun: piratical attacks, piratical ships.

   Patterns

   • piratical attack
   • piratical activity
   • piratical ship

   The coast was known for piratical raids in the 18th century.

   They flew a piratical flag to scare off other ships.

   Piratical activities have increased in some parts of the world.

2. 2adjectivenot comparablefigurative

   Behaving like a pirate; taking someone else's property or ideas without permission.

   Grammar: Often used figuratively: piratical copying of software, piratical business practices.

   Patterns

   • piratical copying
   • piratical behavior
   • piratical practices

   The company was accused of piratical copying of a rival's design.

   His piratical business tactics angered many small firms.

   They engaged in piratical downloading of music and films.

Common combinations

piratical attack

The ship survived a piratical attack near the strait.

piratical activity

Piratical activity has risen off the coast of Somalia.

piratical behavior

The court condemned his piratical behavior.

piratical copying

Piratical copying of software is illegal.

Synonyms and how they differ

pirate

Pirate is a noun (or attributive adjective) meaning a person who robs ships; piratical is the adjective describing such acts or people.

buccaneering

Buccaneering is often used in a romantic or adventurous way, while piratical can be more neutral or negative.

lawless

Lawless means ignoring the law in general; piratical specifically suggests the actions of pirates or unauthorized copying.

Word family

pirate noun

A person who attacks and robs ships, or who copies and sells something without permission.

piracy noun

The act of attacking ships or illegally copying and selling something.

Commonly confused: piratical or pirate?

Practice

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Write a sentence using “piratical”, then check it and compare it with the examples above.

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