Creep vs. Steal — What's the Difference?
By Fiza Rafique & Urooj Arif — Updated on May 2, 2024
Creep involves slow, careful movement to avoid detection, often implying an eerie or disturbing connotation, while steal focuses on taking something secretly without permission.
Difference Between Creep and Steal
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Key Differences
Creep refers to moving slowly and quietly, especially to avoid attracting attention or causing disturbance. On the other hand, steal involves the act of taking something that belongs to someone else without their consent and with the intent to keep it permanently.
Creeping can be associated with a physical movement, such as a person or animal trying to remain unnoticed. Whereas stealing is primarily an action of taking possessions unlawfully, often without any physical movement being noticeable.
The term creep can also metaphorically describe a gradual and almost imperceptible change or movement, such as "the shadows began to creep as evening fell." In contrast, steal is used in various contexts beyond literal thievery, such as in phrases like "steal a glance" or "steal the show," implying taking or winning subtly or unexpectedly.
Creep often carries a negative or sinister connotation, suggesting something unpleasant or supernatural, like "something creepy in the woods." On the other hand, steal, although negative when referring to theft, can have neutral or even positive connotations in metaphorical uses, indicating a clever or skillful act.
While creeping is primarily about the manner of movement or change, stealing emphasizes the unethical or illegal acquisition of property or advantage. This distinction highlights the different focuses of each verb in terms of physical presence and moral implications.
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Comparison Chart
Definition
Move slowly and quietly, often to avoid notice
Take something without permission and keep it
Connotation
Often eerie or sinister
Primarily negative, but can be neutral in metaphors
Usage in Context
Describes physical and metaphorical movement
Refers to taking possession and winning subtly
Typical Associations
Stealthy animals, horror movies
Thieves, clever actions in competitions
Example Phrases
"creep along the floor", "time crept by"
"steal money", "steal the spotlight"
Compare with Definitions
Creep
To grow or change very slowly over a period.
The vine crept up the side of the house.
Steal
To capture or gain something in a clever or surreptitious way.
He stole a kiss when nobody was looking.
Creep
To behave in a obsequiously flattering manner.
He always creeps to the boss in meetings.
Steal
To acquire a valuable deal or buy something at a very low price.
I stole this vintage coat at the flea market for only five dollars.
Creep
To move slowly and carefully, especially to avoid being heard or noticed.
He tried to creep out of the room without waking anyone.
Steal
To take something that doesn't belong to you without permission.
Someone tried to steal my wallet in the subway.
Creep
To move or progress so slowly as to be barely noticeable.
The hands of the clock creep forward.
Steal
To move or do something very quietly and secretly.
She managed to steal out of the room without being seen.
Creep
To cause a feeling of fear or disgust.
The way he smiled at me really gave me the creeps.
Steal
To overshadow or take the limelight from someone or something.
The understudy stole the show with her performance.
Creep
Move slowly and carefully in order to avoid being heard or noticed
He crept downstairs, hardly making any noise
They were taught how to creep up on an enemy
Steal
Take (another person's property) without permission or legal right and without intending to return it
She was found guilty of stealing from her employers
Thieves stole her bicycle
Stolen goods
Creep
(of a negative characteristic or fact) occur or develop gradually and almost imperceptibly
Errors crept into his game
Steal
Move somewhere quietly or surreptitiously
A delicious languor was stealing over her
He stole down to the kitchen
She disobeyed a court order and stole away with the children
Creep
A detestable person
I thought he was a nasty little creep
Steal
A bargain
At £59.95 it's an absolute steal
Creep
Slow steady movement, especially when imperceptible
An attempt to prevent this slow creep of costs
Steal
An act of stealing something
New York's biggest art steal
Creep
An opening in a hedge or wall for an animal to pass through
Low in the wall are creeps, through which ewes gain access to grazing from the pastures behind
Steal
To take (the property of another) without right or permission.
Creep
Solid food given to young farm animals in order to wean them
We've started to wean the lambs earlier and to keep them on creep
Steal
To present or use (someone else's words or ideas) as one's own.
Creep
To move with the body close to the ground, as on hands and knees.
Steal
To get or take secretly or artfully
Steal a look at a diary.
Steal the puck from an opponent.
Creep
To move stealthily or cautiously.
Steal
To give or enjoy (a kiss) that is unexpected or unnoticed.
Creep
To move or proceed very slowly
Traffic creeps at that hour.
Steal
To draw attention unexpectedly in (an entertainment), especially by being the outstanding performer
The magician's assistant stole the show with her comic antics.
Creep
To grow or spread along a surface, rooting at intervals or clinging by means of suckers or tendrils.
Steal
(Baseball) To advance safely to (another base) during the delivery of a pitch, without the aid of a base hit, walk, passed ball, or wild pitch.
Creep
To grow horizontally under the ground, as the rhizomes of many plants.
Steal
To steal another's property.
Creep
To slip out of place; shift gradually.
Steal
(Baseball) To steal a base.
Creep
To have a tingling sensation, made by or as if by things moving stealthily
A moan that made my flesh creep.
Steal
The act of stealing.
Creep
The act of creeping; a creeping motion or progress.
Steal
(Slang) A bargain.
Creep
(Slang) An annoyingly unpleasant, unsettling, or repulsive person.
Steal
(Baseball) A stolen base.
Creep
A slow flow of metal when under high temperature or great pressure.
Steal
(Basketball) An act of gaining possession of the ball from an opponent.
Creep
A slow change in a characteristic of electronic equipment, such as a decrease in power with continued usage.
Steal
(transitive) To take illegally, or without the owner's permission, something owned by someone else without intending to return it.
Three irreplaceable paintings were stolen from the gallery.
Creep
A usually unplanned and gradual shift or increase in uses or objectives away from what was originally specified or limited. Often used in combination
The function creep of using social security numbers for general identification purposes.
Mission creep from a military peacekeeping role to one of providing economic development.
Steal
To appropriate without giving credit or acknowledgement.
They stole my idea for a biodegradable, disposable garbage de-odorizer.
Creep
(Geology) The slow movement of rock debris and soil down a weathered slope.
Steal
(transitive) To get or effect surreptitiously or artfully.
He stole glances at the pretty woman across the street.
Creep
Creeps Informal A sensation of fear or repugnance, as if things were crawling on one's skin
That house gives me the creeps.
Steal
To acquire at a low price.
He stole the car for two thousand less than its book value.
Creep
(intransitive) To move slowly with the abdomen close to the ground.
Lizards and snakes crept over the ground.
Steal
(transitive) To draw attention unexpectedly in (an entertainment), especially by being the outstanding performer. Usually used in the phrase steal the show.
Creep
To grow across a surface rather than upwards.
Steal
(intransitive) To move silently or secretly.
He stole across the room, trying not to wake her.
Creep
(intransitive) To move slowly and quietly in a particular direction.
He tried to creep past the guard without being seen.
Steal
(transitive) To convey (something) clandestinely.
Creep
(intransitive) To make small gradual changes, usually in a particular direction.
Prices have been creeping up all year.
Steal
To withdraw or convey (oneself) clandestinely.
Creep
To move in a stealthy or secret manner; to move imperceptibly or clandestinely; to steal in; to insinuate itself or oneself.
Old age creeps upon us.
Steal
To advance safely to (another base) during the delivery of a pitch, without the aid of a hit, walk, passed ball, wild pitch, or defensive indifference.
Creep
To slip, or to become slightly displaced.
The collodion on a negative, or a coat of varnish, may creep in drying.
The quicksilver on a mirror may creep.
Steal
To dispossess
Creep
To move or behave with servility or exaggerated humility; to fawn.
A creeping sycophant.
Steal
To borrow for a short moment.
Can I steal your pen?
Creep
To have a sensation as of insects creeping on the skin of the body; to crawl.
The sight made my flesh creep.
Steal
Take, plagiarize, tell on a joke, use a well-worded expression in one's own parlance or writing
Creep
To drag in deep water with creepers, as for recovering a submarine cable.
Steal
The act of stealing.
Creep
The movement of something that creeps (like worms or snails).
Steal
(slang) A piece of merchandise available at a very low, attractive price.
At this price, this car is a steal.
Creep
A relatively small gradual change, variation or deviation (from a planned value) in a measure.
Steal
A situation in which a defensive player actively takes possession of the ball or puck from the opponent's team.
Creep
A slight displacement of an object; the slight movement of something.
Steal
(baseball) A stolen base.
Creep
(uncountable) The gradual expansion or proliferation of something beyond its original goals or boundaries, considered negatively.
Christmas creep
Feature creep
Instruction creep
Mission creep
Steal
(curling) Scoring in an end without the hammer.
Creep
(publishing) In sewn books, the tendency of pages on the inside of a quire to stand out farther than those on the outside of it.
Steal
(computing) A policy in database systems that a database follows which allows a transaction to be written on nonvolatile storage before its commit occurs.
Creep
(materials science) An increase in strain with time; the gradual flow or deformation of a material under stress.
Steal
A handle; a stale, or stele.
And in his hand a huge poleax did bear.Whose steale was iron-studded but not long.
Creep
(geology) The imperceptible downslope movement of surface rock.
Steal
To take, and carry away, feloniously; to take without right or leave, and with intent to keep wrongfully; as, to steal the personal goods of another.
Maugre thy heed, thou must for indigenceOr steal, or beg, or borrow, thy dispense.
The man who stole a goose and gave away the giblets in alms.
Creep
Someone unpleasantly strange or eccentric.
Steal
To withdraw or convey clandestinely (reflexive); hence, to creep furtively, or to insinuate.
They could insinuate and steal themselves under the same by their humble carriage and submission.
He will steal himself into a man's favor.
Creep
A frightening and/or disconcerting person, especially one who gives the speaker chills.
Stop following me, you creep!
Steal
To gain by insinuating arts or covert means.
So Absalom stole the hearts of the men of Israel.
Creep
(agriculture) A barrier with small openings used to keep large animals out while allowing smaller animals to pass through.
Steal
To get into one's power gradually and by imperceptible degrees; to take possession of by a gradual and imperceptible appropriation; - with away.
Variety of objects has a tendency to steal away the mind from its steady pursuit of any subject.
Creep
To move along the ground, or on any other surface, on the belly, as a worm or reptile; to move as a child on the hands and knees; to crawl.
Ye that walkThe earth, and stately tread, or lowly creep.
Steal
To accomplish in a concealed or unobserved manner; to try to carry out secretly; as, to steal a look.
Always, when thou changest thine opinion or course, profess it plainly, . . . and do not think to steal it.
She yesterday wanted to steal a march of poor Liddy.
Fifty thousand men can not easily steal a march over the sea.
Creep
To move slowly, feebly, or timorously, as from unwillingness, fear, or weakness.
The whining schoolboy . . . creeping, like snail,Unwillingly to school.
Like a guilty thing, I creep.
Steal
To practice, or be guilty of, theft; to commit larceny or theft.
Thou shalt not steal.
Creep
To move in a stealthy or secret manner; to move imperceptibly or clandestinely; to steal in; to insinuate itself or one's self; as, age creeps upon us.
The sophistry which creeps into most of the books of argument.
Of this sort are they which creep into houses, and lead captive silly women.
Steal
To withdraw, or pass privily; to slip in, along, or away, unperceived; to go or come furtively.
Fixed of mind to avoid further entreaty, and to fly all company, one night she stole away.
From whom you now must steal, and take no leave.
A soft and solemn breathing soundRose like a steam of rich, distilled perfumes,And stole upon the air.
Creep
To slip, or to become slightly displaced; as, the collodion on a negative, or a coat of varnish, may creep in drying; the quicksilver on a mirror may creep.
Steal
An advantageous purchase;
She got a bargain at the auction
The stock was a real buy at that price
Creep
To move or behave with servility or exaggerated humility; to fawn; as, a creeping sycophant.
To come as humbly as they used to creep.
Steal
A stolen base; an instance in which a base runner advances safely during the delivery of a pitch (without the help of a hit or walk or passed ball or wild pitch)
Creep
To grow, as a vine, clinging to the ground or to some other support by means of roots or rootlets, or by tendrils, along its length.
Steal
Take without the owner's consent;
Someone stole my wallet on the train
This author stole entire paragraphs from my dissertation
Creep
To drag in deep water with creepers, as for recovering a submarine cable.
Steal
Move stealthily;
The ship slipped away in the darkness
Creep
The act or process of creeping.
Steal
Steal a base
Creep
A distressing sensation, or sound, like that occasioned by the creeping of insects.
A creep of undefinable horror.
Out of the stillness, with gathering creep,Like rising wind in leaves.
Steal
To go stealthily or furtively;
..stead of sneaking around spying on the neighbor's house
Creep
A slow rising of the floor of a gallery, occasioned by the pressure of incumbent strata upon the pillars or sides; a gradual movement of mining ground.
Creep
Someone unpleasantly strange or eccentric
Creep
A slow longitudinal movement or deformation
Creep
A slow creeping mode of locomotion (on hands and knees or dragging the body);
A crawl was all that the injured man could manage
The traffic moved at a creep
Creep
Move slowly; in the case of people or animals with the body near the ground;
The crocodile was crawling along the riverbed
Creep
To go stealthily or furtively;
..stead of sneaking around spying on the neighbor's house
Creep
Grow in such a way as to cover (a building, for example);
Ivy grew over the walls of the university buildings
Creep
Show submission or fear
Common Curiosities
Can steal be used in a positive context?
Yes, phrases like "steal the show" carry a positive connotation.
Is creeping always related to physical movement?
No, creeping can also describe gradual, almost imperceptible changes.
How does the connotation of creep compare to steal?
Creep usually has a more sinister or negative connotation compared to steal, which can be neutral or positive in metaphoric senses.
What is the primary action associated with creep?
Creep primarily describes slow, stealthy movement.
Can both terms be used metaphorically?
Yes, both can be used metaphorically, with creep describing gradual developments and steal often relating to winning or excelling.
How do the terms creep and steal differ in terms of legality?
Stealing is inherently illegal as it involves taking someone’s property, while creeping, though potentially disturbing, isn't necessarily illegal.
Can both verbs describe movements that go unnoticed?
Yes, both can describe unnoticed movements, but creep specifically implies quiet and slow movement.
What are common contexts where "steal" is used besides theft?
Steal is also commonly used in contexts like sports or performances to indicate winning subtly or capturing attention.
What is a scenario where creeping is seen as positive?
In nature documentaries, creeping can be seen as a skillful survival tactic.
Does the term steal always imply permanence in taking something?
In the context of theft, yes, but metaphorically, it can simply imply a temporary or impactful action.
What kind of physical movement is associated with steal?
While physical stealth can be involved, steal often implies a quick or subtle action rather than a slow process.
Which term is likely to be used in a horror setting?
Creep is more likely used in horror to describe unsettling or stealthy movements.
Is it possible for something non-living to creep?
Yes, non-living things like shadows or plants can be described as creeping.
How is the action of stealing viewed in society?
Generally negatively, as it breaches trust and legality.
Which term would be used to describe someone’s behavior in trying to gain favor?
Creep could be used to describe someone behaving in a subservient or overly flattering way to gain favor.
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Fiza RafiqueFiza Rafique is a skilled content writer at AskDifference.com, where she meticulously refines and enhances written pieces. Drawing from her vast editorial expertise, Fiza ensures clarity, accuracy, and precision in every article. Passionate about language, she continually seeks to elevate the quality of content for readers worldwide.
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Urooj ArifUrooj is a skilled content writer at Ask Difference, known for her exceptional ability to simplify complex topics into engaging and informative content. With a passion for research and a flair for clear, concise writing, she consistently delivers articles that resonate with our diverse audience.
