Steal vs Steel
Published January 25, 2023. Updated January 25, 2023.
Steal and steel are similar because they are homophones (words that sound the same), but they have different spellings and meanings. Steal can be either a verb or a noun. As a verb, it can mean to take someone’s possession without their permission, to get a good deal on a purchase, or to move in a noiseless way. As a noun, it refers to the action of taking something that doesn’t belong to you, an item bought at a discount, or one of several sports terms. Steel can be a noun, verb, or adjective. As a noun, it can refer to a type of metal, things made of the metal, or things that carry the quality of that metal. As an adjective, it describes something made of that metal or like it in some quality. As a verb, it means to cover something with steel or to make something like steel in appearance, hardness, etc.
Here are some definitions and examples to help make the use of these words clearer.
Steal (verb)
- To take someone’s physical possessions such as personal items, home, land, etc., or figurative possessions like intellectual property, attention, etc. without their permission.
Examples:
When I was a child, I got into trouble for stealing my neighbor’s bike.
The big company tried to steal the new employee’s ideas without giving her credit.
- To get a good deal on a purchase through a sale, haggling, or some other means.
Examples:
You stole that painting if you paid anything less than $500.
I love going to yard sales and stealing old video games for cheap prices.
- To move in a way that is secretive or noiseless.
Examples:
The student stole through the room without the teacher noticing.
I’m too clumsy to steal across the house at night without waking someone up.
Note: Steal has many other meanings related to the first sentence in example 3, particularly in sports contexts.
Steal (noun)
- The act of stealing something.
Examples:
The robbers pulled off their steal without getting caught.
He got away with a big art steal.
- A bargain on an item.
Examples:
I got these shoes for a steal.
If you look at the right stores, you can get a steal on vinyl records.
- Used for a variety of meanings in different sports games. E.g., in baseball a steal is running to a base when the ball isn’t in play, while in basketball it means taking possession of the ball by hitting it out of a player’s hands.
Example:
Their shortstop wasn’t paying attention when the opposing player made a steal.
Steals are very important in defense in basketball.
Steel (noun)
- A type of metal that is made from iron.
Examples:
Is that sword made of steel?
Superman is nicknamed “the Man of Steel.”
- An item made of steel
Examples:
Do you prefer silverware or steel?
Please, hand me my steel.
- Something that has the quality (color, durability, etc.) of
Examples:
Her skin was steel.
Do you want a blue, red, or steel color for your new phone?
Steel (adjective)
- Something made of steel.
Examples:
They had steel weapons while we only had iron at that time.
The steel chair is uncomfortable to sit on without a pillow, but it’s very durable.
- Something with the quality of
Examples:
She had a mind of steel and was able to resist the cake.
The wrestler had steel abs.
Steel (verb)
- To cover or fortify something with steel.
Examples:
Don’t forget to steel the edges of the table.
Steeling takes a lot of material.
- To make something like steel in durability, appearance, etc.
Examples:
The foot soldiers steeled themselves against the coming attack.
I like it when they steel different kinds of colors together.
Main Points
- Steal and steel have the same pronunciation, but different spellings and meanings.
- Steal usually refers to taking something without someone’s permission either figuratively or literally.
- Steel usually refers to a type of metal or things that are like that metal.