Steal vs. Steel — What's the Difference?
Edited by Tayyaba Rehman — By Fiza Rafique — Updated on October 12, 2023
"Steal" is to take something without permission, while "Steel" refers to a hard, strong metal alloy.
Difference Between Steal and Steel
Table of Contents
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Key Differences
"Steal" and "Steel" are classic examples of homophones in the English language, words that sound alike but have different meanings. "Steal," as a verb, primarily refers to taking something without the owner's permission, symbolizing an act of theft. In contrast, "Steel" is a noun referring to a hard, strong metal alloy, primarily composed of iron and carbon.
The differences between "Steal" and "Steel" extend beyond their meanings. Contextually, "Steal" fits into scenarios depicting dishonesty or crime, whereas "Steel" typically relates to construction, manufacturing, and durability.
One must be cautious not to confuse the two, as their implications in a sentence can be vastly different. For example, "to steal a glance" means to sneak a quick look, while "steel beams" refer to structural supports made of metal. In essence, while they sound identical when spoken, "Steal" and "Steel" occupy different spheres of the English lexicon.
Comparison Chart
Part of Speech
Verb (primarily)
Noun
Meaning
To take without permission
A hard, strong metal alloy
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Usage
Depicts dishonesty or crime
Relates to construction, manufacturing
Example Sentence
He tried to steal a candy bar.
The bridge is reinforced with steel beams.
Synonyms
Pilfer, swipe, purloin
Iron, metal, alloy
Compare with Definitions
Steal
A bargain or an advantageous purchase.
At that price, the shirt is a steal.
Steel
To mentally prepare oneself for a challenging situation.
She steeled herself for the bad news.
Steal
To hit or strike effectively in a game.
He managed to steal the ball from his opponent.
Steel
A grayish-blue color.
The sky turned a cold steel hue.
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
Steel
Sharp, hard, or strong like steel.
His resolve was of steel.
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
Steel
Steel is an alloy made up of iron with typically a few tenths of a percent of carbon to improve its strength and fracture resistance compared to iron. Many other elements may be present or added.
Steal
A bargain
At £59.95 it's an absolute steal
Steel
A hard, strong grey or bluish-grey alloy of iron with carbon and usually other elements, used as a structural and fabricating material
Steel girders
Steal
An act of stealing something
New York's biggest art steal
Steel
Mentally prepare (oneself) to do or face something difficult
His team were steeling themselves for disappointment
She steeled herself to remain calm
Steal
To take (the property of another) without right or permission.
Steel
A generally hard, strong, durable, malleable alloy of iron and carbon, usually containing between 0.2 and 1.5 percent carbon, often with other constituents such as manganese, chromium, nickel, molybdenum, copper, tungsten, cobalt, or silicon, depending on the desired alloy properties, and widely used as a structural material.
Steal
To present or use (someone else's words or ideas) as one's own.
Steel
Something, such as a sword, that is made of steel.
Steal
To get or take secretly or artfully
Steal a look at a diary.
Steal the puck from an opponent.
Steel
A quality suggestive of this alloy, especially a hard, unflinching character.
Steal
To give or enjoy (a kiss) that is unexpected or unnoticed.
Steel
Steel gray.
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.
Steel
Made with, relating to, or consisting of steel
Steel beams.
The steel industry.
A bicycle with a steel frame.
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.
Steel
Very firm or strong
A steel grip.
Steal
To steal another's property.
Steel
Of a steel gray.
Steal
To move, happen, or elapse stealthily or unobtrusively
He stole away for a quiet moment. The deadline stole up on us.
Steel
To cover, plate, edge, or point with steel.
Steal
(Baseball) To steal a base.
Steel
To make hard, strong, or obdurate; strengthen
He steeled himself for disappointment.
Steal
The act of stealing.
Steel
An artificial metal produced from iron, harder and more elastic than elemental iron; used figuratively as a symbol of hardness.
Steal
(Slang) A bargain.
Steel
(countable) Any item made of this metal, particularly including:
Steal
(Baseball) A stolen base.
Steel
Bladed or pointed weapons, as swords, javelins, daggers.
Steal
(Basketball) An act of gaining possession of the ball from an opponent.
Steel
A piece used for striking sparks from flint.
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.
Steel
Armor.
Steal
To appropriate without giving credit or acknowledgement.
They stole my idea for a biodegradable, disposable garbage de-odorizer.
Steel
A honing steel, a tool used to sharpen or hone metal blades.
Steal
(transitive) To get or effect surreptitiously or artfully.
He stole glances at the pretty woman across the street.
Steel
(sewing) Pieces used to strengthen, support, or expand an item of clothing.
Steal
To acquire at a low price.
He stole the car for two thousand less than its book value.
Steel
(dialectal) A flat iron.
Steal
(transitive) To draw attention unexpectedly in (an entertainment), especially by being the outstanding performer. Usually used in the phrase steal the show.
Steel
A sewing needle; a knitting needle; a sharp metal stylus.
Steal
(intransitive) To move silently or secretly.
He stole across the room, trying not to wake her.
Steel
(printing) An engraving plate:
Steal
(transitive) To convey (something) clandestinely.
Steel
Projectiles.
Steal
To withdraw or convey (oneself) clandestinely.
Steel
(sewing) A fringe of beads or decoration of this metal.
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.
Steel
A type of slide used while playing the steel guitar.
Steal
To dispossess
Steel
Medicinal consumption of this metal; chalybeate medicine; (eventually) any iron or iron-treated water consumed as a medical treatment.
Steal
To borrow for a short moment.
Can I steal your pen?
Steel
(countable) Varieties of this metal.
Steal
Take, plagiarize, tell on a joke, use a well-worded expression in one's own parlance or writing
Steel
The gray hue of this metal; steel-gray, or steel blue.
Steal
The act of stealing.
Steel
(figurative) Extreme hardness or resilience.
Steal
(slang) A piece of merchandise available at a very low, attractive price.
At this price, this car is a steal.
Steel
Made of steel.
Steal
A situation in which a defensive player actively takes possession of the ball or puck from the opponent's team.
Steel
Similar to steel in color, strength, or the like; steely.
Steal
(baseball) A stolen base.
Steel
(business) Of or belonging to the manufacture or trade in steel.
Steal
(curling) Scoring in an end without the hammer.
Steel
Containing steel.
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.
Steel
(printing) Engraved on steel.
Steal
A handle; a stale, or stele.
And in his hand a huge poleax did bear.Whose steale was iron-studded but not long.
Steel
(transitive) To edge, cover, or point with steel.
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.
Steel
(transitive) To harden or strengthen; to nerve or make obdurate; to fortify against.
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.
Steel
To back with steel.
Steal
To gain by insinuating arts or covert means.
So Absalom stole the hearts of the men of Israel.
Steel
To treat a liquid with steel for medicinal purposes.
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.
Steel
To press with a flat iron.
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.
Steel
To cause to resemble steel in appearance.
Steal
To practice, or be guilty of, theft; to commit larceny or theft.
Thou shalt not steal.
Steel
(transitive) To steelify; to turn iron into steel.
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.
Steel
(transitive) To electroplate an item, particularly an engraving plate, with a layer of iron.
Steal
An advantageous purchase;
She got a bargain at the auction
The stock was a real buy at that price
Steel
(transitive) To sharpen with a honing steel.
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)
Steel
Coldbath Fields Prison in London, closed in 1877.
Steal
Take without the owner's consent;
Someone stole my wallet on the train
This author stole entire paragraphs from my dissertation
Steel
A variety of iron intermediate in composition and properties between wrought iron and cast iron (containing between one half of one per cent and one and a half per cent of carbon), and consisting of an alloy of iron with an iron carbide. Steel, unlike wrought iron, can be tempered, and retains magnetism. Its malleability decreases, and fusibility increases, with an increase in carbon.
Steal
Move stealthily;
The ship slipped away in the darkness
Steel
An instrument or implement made of steel
Steal
Steal a base
Steel
A weapon, as a sword, dagger, etc.
While doubting thus he stood,Received the steel bathed in his brother's blood.
Steal
To go stealthily or furtively;
..stead of sneaking around spying on the neighbor's house
Steel
Fig.: Anything of extreme hardness; that which is characterized by sternness or rigor.
Steal
To take something without permission.
The burglar managed to steal valuable items.
Steel
An instrument of steel (usually a round rod) for sharpening knives.
Steal
To move silently or surreptitiously.
He would often steal into the room unnoticed.
Steel
A chalybeate medicine.
Steal
To capture or win stealthily.
She managed to steal the show with her performance.
Steel
A piece of steel for striking sparks from flint.
Steel
To overlay, point, or edge with steel; as, to steel a razor; to steel an ax.
Steel
To make hard or strong; hence, to make insensible or obdurate.
Lies well steeled with weighty arguments.
O God of battles! steel my soldiers' hearts.
Why will you fight against so sweet a passion,And steel your heart to such a world of charms?
Steel
To cause to resemble steel, as in smoothness, polish, or other qualities.
These waters, steeledBy breezeless air to smoothest polish.
Steel
To cover, as an electrotype plate, with a thin layer of iron by electrolysis. The iron thus deposited is very hard, like steel.
Steel
An alloy of iron with small amounts of carbon; widely used in construction; mechanical properties can be varied over a wide range
Steel
A cutting or thrusting weapon with a long blade
Steel
Knife sharpener consisting of a ridged steel rod
Steel
Get ready for something difficult or unpleasant
Steel
Cover, plate, or edge with steel
Steel
A hard, strong metal alloy primarily made of iron and carbon.
The building is reinforced with steel bars.
Steel
A sword or blade.
Knights of old wielded steels in battle.
Common Curiosities
Can "Steel" refer to a color?
Yes, it can refer to a grayish-blue color.
Are "Steal" and "Steel" spelled the same?
No, "Steal" refers to theft, while "Steel" refers to a metal alloy.
Is "Steal" only associated with crimes?
Primarily, but it can also mean a bargain or to move silently.
What is a "steal" in basketball?
It's when a player takes the ball away from an opponent.
Is "Steel" always hard and inflexible?
While known for its hardness, steel's properties can vary based on its composition and treatment.
Can "Steal" refer to capturing attention?
Yes, as in "steal the spotlight" or "steal the show."
Can "Steal" be a noun?
Yes, as in "That dress was a steal at that price!"
Can "Steel" ever be a verb?
Yes, it can mean to mentally prepare oneself, as in "to steel oneself against pain."
What's another word for "Steel" when referring to a blade?
It can also be called a "sword" or "blade."
Can "Steal" be used in a positive context?
Yes, as in "That deal was a steal!" implying a great bargain.
What makes steel different from iron?
Steel is an alloy made primarily of iron and carbon, often with other elements to enhance properties.
What is stainless steel?
It's a type of steel resistant to staining, rusting, or corroding easily.
Are "Steal" and "Steel" pronounced the same?
Yes, they're homophones, so they sound alike but have different meanings.
What are some common uses for steel?
Construction, automotive manufacturing, and kitchen utensils are just a few examples.
How can I remember the difference between "Steal" and "Steel"?
Think of "Steal" as taking and "Steel" as the metal.
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Written by
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.
Edited by
Tayyaba RehmanTayyaba Rehman is a distinguished writer, currently serving as a primary contributor to askdifference.com. As a researcher in semantics and etymology, Tayyaba's passion for the complexity of languages and their distinctions has found a perfect home on the platform. Tayyaba delves into the intricacies of language, distinguishing between commonly confused words and phrases, thereby providing clarity for readers worldwide.
