steal 1 of 2

verb

ˈstēl How to pronounce steal (audio)
Definition of stealnext
1
as in to swipe
to take (something) without right and with an intent to keep the guy who tried to steal my car was sentenced to a year in jail

Synonyms & Similar Words

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in to sneak
to move about in a sly or secret manner the teenagers were able to steal past a security guard and enter the fairgrounds without paying admission

Synonyms & Similar Words

steal

2 of 2

noun

as in bargain
something bought or offered for sale at a desirable price at 50% off, that shirt is a real steal

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

Synonym Chooser

How does the verb steal differ from other similar words?

Some common synonyms of steal are filch, pilfer, and purloin. While all these words mean "to take from another without right or without detection," steal may apply to any surreptitious taking of something and differs from the other terms by commonly applying to intangibles as well as material things.

steal jewels
stole a look at the gifts

In what contexts can filch take the place of steal?

The meanings of filch and steal largely overlap; however, filch adds a suggestion of snatching quickly and surreptitiously.

filched an apple from the tray

When might pilfer be a better fit than steal?

While the synonyms pilfer and steal are close in meaning, pilfer implies stealing repeatedly in small amounts.

pilfered from his employer

When could purloin be used to replace steal?

The synonyms purloin and steal are sometimes interchangeable, but purloin stresses removing or carrying off for one's own use or purposes.

printed a purloined document

Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of steal
Verb
Then, on the second night of the Knockouts, she was stolen again. —Raechal Shewfelt, EW.com, 8 Apr. 2025 Tanzi tied up Acosta in the back of the van and headed to Key West, stealing her money from ATMS along the way after threatening her with a box cutter to get her bank account password. —Grethel Aguila, Miami Herald, 8 Apr. 2025
Noun
Adebayo scored a team-high 31 points for the Heat to go with 12 rebounds, five assists, two steals and one block in 43 minutes. —Anthony Chiang, Miami Herald, 6 Apr. 2025 The graduate guard added one rebound, an assist and two steals. —Andy Theobald, Kansas City Star, 6 Apr. 2025 See All Example Sentences for steal
Recent Examples of Synonyms for steal
  1. swipe
  2. sneak
  3. bargain
  4. rob
  5. lurk
  6. deal
  7. grab
  8. slip
Verb
  • Jose Siri, pinch-running for Mark Vientos, swiped second in the top of the eighth, and with one out, Tyrone Taylor singled up the middle off George Soriano to send him home.
    — Abbey Mastracco, New York Daily News, 8 Apr. 2025
  • Lee totaled three hits, scored two runs and swiped his third base of the season as the Giants beat the Seattle Mariners, 4-1, on Matt Chapman’s bobblehead night, extending their winning streak to six games and improving to 7-1 for the first time since 2003.
    — Justice delos Santos, Mercury News, 5 Apr. 2025
Definition of swipe
Verb
  • How did Passover and Easter sneak up on us so fast?
    — Gretta Monahan, Boston Herald, 6 Apr. 2025
  • But a better travel pillow does all that and sneaks an extra day’s worth of clothing onto the plane without catching a gate agent’s attention.
    — Olivia Young, Travel + Leisure, 6 Apr. 2025
Definition of sneak
Noun
  • Some investors tried to find some bargains in the rubble of the worst decline since the pandemic in 2020, giving the market a bit of a boost.
    — Medora Lee, USA Today, 7 Apr. 2025
  • However, those bargain tickets are only for children between the ages of 3 and 9.
    — Melissa Locker, Southern Living, 28 Mar. 2025
Definition of bargain
Verb
  • Their righteous scores soon turn dangerous when the pair end up robbing the wrong house to one of the biggest and secretive narcotics operations on the East coast.
    — Destiny Jackson, Deadline, 6 Apr. 2025
  • An extremely rare inflammatory condition in his blood vessels caused several blood clots to form on both sides of his head, placing him in a coma and robbing him of the ability to speak, walk and eat.
    — Jordan Campbell, New York Times, 6 Apr. 2025
Definition of rob
Verb
  • Bex, lurking in the shadows while waiting on backup, couldn’t quite get a shot at Jenna, but someone did — Shane, who had chosen the team over learning about his mom.
    — Matt Webb Mitovich, TVLine, 7 Apr. 2025
  • While the 1990s were a time of economic prosperity, uncertainty lurked amid the approaching Y2K era and new millennium.
    — Leah Asmelash, CNN Money, 6 Apr. 2025
Definition of lurk
Noun
  • Financial details of the Amalie deal were not disclosed.
    — Jason Clinkscales, Sportico.com, 10 Apr. 2025
  • Armed with billion-dollar domestic media rights deals, the three power countries have been under pressure to satisfy broadcasters wanting more marquee series.
    — Tristan Lavalette, Forbes.com, 10 Apr. 2025
Definition of deal
Verb
  • In the footage, Combs, wearing a robe, is seen kicking Ventura, grabbing her by the hair and throwing her to the ground before grabbing her suitcase and handbag.
    — Kevin Dolak, HollywoodReporter, 7 Apr. 2025
  • Roberts grabbed eight boards vs. Gonzaga in the round of 32, 12 vs. Purdue in the Sweet 16 and 12 more vs. Duke in the Final Four.
    — Tyler Everett, MSNBC Newsweek, 7 Apr. 2025
Definition of grab
Verb
  • But are we really supposed to believe that wife-of-the-year Karen Wilson would let such an important date slip her mind?
    — Andy Swift, TVLine, 3 Apr. 2025
  • Apparently, his son Jabari fell from an A+ to an A in spelling, so Darnell is living up to his promise of beating Gregory’s ass if Jabari’s grades ever slipped.
    — Ile-Ife Okantah, Vulture, 3 Apr. 2025
Definition of slip

Phrases Containing steal

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steak houses
steal
stealer
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Cite this Entry

“Steal.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/steal. Accessed 16 Apr. 2025.

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