Looking for synonyms for steal? We’ve got you covered!
Here’s a list of other ways to say steal.
- Pilfer
- Swipe
- Purloin
- Thieve
- Filch
- Snatch
- Embezzle
- Lift
- Misappropriate
- Pinch
- Shoplift
- Heist
- Rob
- Plunder
- Burglarize
Want to learn how to say steal professionally? Keep reading for examples and use cases.
1. Pilfer
Appropriate Use: Refers to stealing things of small value or in small amounts.
Example: “Someone was caught pilfering office supplies.”
2. Swipe
Appropriate Use: Informal; used for quickly or sneakily taking something without permission.
Example: “An employee swiped a few dollars from the petty cash drawer.”
3. Purloin
Appropriate Use: Formal or literary; refers to stealing something.
Example: “Confidential documents were purloined from the director’s desk.”
4. Thieve
Appropriate Use: Used for the act of stealing, often in a continuous or habitual manner.
Example: “Reports suggest an insider has been thieving from the warehouse.”
5. Filch
Appropriate Use: Informal; used for taking something in a sneaky or light-fingered way.
Example: “He was caught filching snacks from the break room.”
6. Snatch
Appropriate Use: Refers to quickly seizing something in a rude or eager way.
Example: “The culprit snatched the smartphone from the table.”
7. Embezzle
Appropriate Use: Used in a legal or business context; refers to the theft of funds placed in one’s trust.
Example: “The accountant was accused of embezzling company funds.”
8. Lift
Appropriate Use: Informal; used for taking something without permission.
Example: “Someone lifted my laptop when I left my office unlocked.”
9. Misappropriate
Appropriate Use: Formal; refers to the dishonest or illegal use of something, typically money, for one’s own use.
Example: “The manager misappropriated the client’s investment funds.”
10. Pinch
Appropriate Use: Informal; used for stealing or taking without permission.
Example: “He was caught pinching a book from the library.”
11. Shoplift
Appropriate Use: Refers specifically to stealing goods from a store.
Example: “The security cameras caught someone trying to shoplift electronics.”
12. Heist
Appropriate Use: Used for a planned robbery or burglary, especially one involving a theft.
Example: “The bank heist was carried out by a well-organized group.”
13. Rob
Appropriate Use: Refers to taking property unlawfully from a person or place by force or threat.
Example: “The intruders robbed the safe of its contents.”
14. Plunder
Appropriate Use: Used in the context of stealing goods, especially during war or civil disorder.
Example: “The historical artifacts were plundered from the museum during the conflict.”
15. Burglarize
Appropriate Use: Specifically refers to entering a building illegally with intent to commit a crime, especially theft.
Example: “The company’s headquarters were burglarized over the weekend.”
