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
Nick Fortes threw out Ramirez trying to steal second in the first. — Rob Maaddi, Los Angeles Times, 13 Oct. 2026 Scammers stole more than $1 trillion globally in one year, according to a 2024 report from the Global Anti-Scam Alliance. — Vicky Nguyen, NBC news, 13 Oct. 2026
Noun
Hamilton stole 30 bases during the regular season and went 4 for 7 with a homer and three steals in the NLCS. — ABC News, 17 Oct. 2026 The trio also made WNBA history as the first three teammates to finish first, second and third in steals per game. — Christopher Harris, CBS News, 16 Oct. 2026 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
  • The thefts attracted attention in September partly because of how easily the artworks appeared to have been swiped.
    — Daniel Cassady, ARTnews.com, 16 Oct. 2026
  • Just moments prior, Link had swiped some of Jo’s old pain meds as his addiction issues seem to only be getting bigger.
    — Nellie Andreeva, Deadline, 15 Oct. 2026
Definition of swipe
Verb
  • But, the heartbreak would come sneaking around the bend over what might be the wildest 20 seconds of recent Big Ten memory, thanks to the insane final few minutes.
    — Trey Wallace OutKick, FOXNews.com, 17 Oct. 2026
  • The basics include covering vents with mesh so embers can’t sneak in and ensuring every window and door is closed.
    — Noah Haggerty, Los Angeles Times, 17 Oct. 2026
Definition of sneak
Noun
  • Workers have faced this bargain before More than a century ago, factory managers faced a similar problem.
    — Christoph Trattner, Fortune, 14 Oct. 2026
  • The bargain Guardians clinched the American League Central title and earned a bye in the playoffs.
    — Isaac Tellechea, CNN Money, 14 Oct. 2026
Definition of bargain
Verb
  • The victim told deputies that two men threatened the victim with a firearm, robbed the victim and fled.
    — Rosalio Ahumada, Sacbee.com, 14 Oct. 2026
  • Rookie wide receiver Ricky Pearsall was shot in Union Square when a teenager allegedly attempted to rob him in 2024.
    — Steve Henson, Los Angeles Times, 14 Oct. 2026
Definition of rob
Verb
  • An amateur astronomer harnessed artificial intelligence agents to find a previously undiscovered exoplanet lurking in publicly available data.
    — Adam Kovac, Scientific American, 14 Oct. 2026
  • But trouble lurked in a left-field box seat — and at shortstop.
    — Kori Rumore, Chicago Tribune, 14 Oct. 2026
Definition of lurk
Noun
  • Creator deals unveiled at the market included Endemol Shine Brasil’s pact with Latino creator house Grupo Podpah.
    — Jesse Whittock, Deadline, 15 Oct. 2026
  • Kelly Elizabeth Shea pleaded guilty to misdemeanor obstruction of justice in a plea deal Wednesday afternoon, and a judge sentenced her to a year of probation and community service.
    — Julia Coin, Charlotte Observer, 15 Oct. 2026
Definition of deal
Verb
  • Video on social media showed distressed shopkeepers begging young men to stop stealing their inventory—and those young men pushing them aside to grab shoes and food from their shelves.
    — Jim Edwards, Fortune, 20 Oct. 2026
  • One 10-year-old girl, crying and trying to hug her father, was allegedly grabbed by the neck by law enforcement, according to the lawsuit.
    — Sarah Cutler, Idaho Statesman, 19 Oct. 2026
Definition of grab
Verb
  • Some dental floss manufacturers have been quietly moving away from the synthetic material PTFE, which helped their product slip smoothly between teeth.
    — Margaret Hetherman The Washington Post, Arkansas Online, 19 Oct. 2026
  • The spacecraft will arrive in the Mars system in August 2027, then slip into orbit around Phobos a month later.
    — Mike Wall, Space.com, 19 Oct. 2026
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 20 Oct. 2026.

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