Synonyms of stealing

stealing 1 of 2

noun

as in robbery

the unlawful taking and carrying away of property without the consent of its owner

in those days the stealing of a horse was a very serious crime

Synonyms & Similar Words

• robbery
• theft
• larceny
• kidnapping
• thievery
• burglary
• pilfering
• smuggling
• embezzlement
• abduction
• embezzling
• misappropriation
• shoplifting
• graft
• hijacking
• plundering
• looting
• rustling
• pilferage
• housebreaking
• peculation
• misapplication
• petit larceny
• filching
• piracy
• petty larceny
• poaching
• pillage
• purloining
• carjacking
• spoliation
• rapine
• despoliation
• banditry
• shanghaiing
• despoilment
• black marketeering

stealing

2 of 2

verb

present participle of steal

1

as in swiping

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

• swiping
• robbing
• pilfering
• grabbing
• snatching
• lifting
• filching
• thieving
• appropriating
• misappropriating
• purloining
• pocketing
• nicking
• pinching
• snitching
• hijacking
• hooking
• nipping
• boosting
• ripping off
• picking
• seizing
• taking
• heisting
• plundering
• running off with
• making off with
• looting
• making away with
• burglarizing
• pillaging
• walking off with
• sacking
• shoplifting
• knocking over
• poaching
• grasping
• kidnapping
• abducting
• rustling
• rifling
• nailing
• carjacking
• mooching
• collaring
• sponging
• spiriting
• shanghaiing

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• buying
• purchasing
• giving
• presenting
• contributing
• donating
• bestowing
• handing over

2

as in sneaking

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

• sneaking
• lurking
• slipping
• sliding
• crawling
• slinking
• skulking
• shirking
• snaking
• creeping
• tiptoeing
• mooching
• mousing
• pussyfooting
• edging
• inching
• padding
• worming
• ghosting

Example Sentences

Recent Examples of stealing

Noun

Luke Locklear, 29, of Lumberton, is charged with felony conspiracy, and altering/stealing/destroying criminal evidence by taking it from the home and burning it, a warrant says. — Mark Price, Charlotte Observer, 26 June 2026

Sale and Ventura engaged in a heated argument a few days later after Sale demanded Ventura call out the Tigers for the sign-stealing. — Paul Sullivan, Chicago Tribune, 20 June 2026

Between November 2023 and January 2024, Jones had been listed as a suspect or subject in Kansas City Police Department reports, involving trespassing, residential burglary and stealing, according to the probable cause statement. — Ben Wheeler, Kansas City Star, 12 June 2026

That’s base stealing in the Pitch Clock Era. — Chad Jennings, New York Times, 21 May 2026

But stealing isn’t negotiation. — Emma Hinchliffe, Fortune, 20 May 2026

Samaniego yielded a one-out single to Starling Marte, but the Royals only had two men on base for a matter of seconds, as the Sox southpaw threw to Durbin at third to catch Thomas stealing. — Gabrielle Starr, Boston Herald, 20 May 2026

Like there was a little problem in the Bronx because of stealing, small quality stealing. — Jesse Zanger, CBS News, 20 May 2026

The art of base stealing and bunting is just in the toilet at this point. — Zach Dean Outkick, FOXNews.com, 16 May 2026

Verb

Those charges stem from Vick allegedly breaking into a former girlfriend’s home, and he is accused of stealing multiple electronic devices, as well as unscrewing the camera that had been located on the porch of her home. — Ben Wheeler, Kansas City Star, 13 July 2026

Do resigned and admitted to stealing millions in discretionary funds meant to help seniors during the COVID-19 pandemic, instead directing the money to a nonprofit connected to him, according to an LAist report. — Kyle Martin, Mercury News, 13 July 2026

The 41-page lawsuit Apple filed against OpenAI for allegedly stealing trade secrets is a good read. — Emily Forlini, Fortune, 13 July 2026

Meyers is also suspected of stealing a license plate from a vehicle parked on the Four Winds Casino lot in New Buffalo, the station reported. — Jim Woods, Chicago Tribune, 12 July 2026

So, his first time hearing Lin-Manuel Miranda was like this freshman stealing his lights. — ABC News, 10 July 2026

The series follows Ada, an impulsive police officer and former urban-acrobatics expert who investigates a gang of stunt performers specializing in stealing luxury cargo from trucks travelling at high speed. — Elsa Keslassy, Variety, 10 July 2026

Apple on Friday sued OpenAI and its hardware chief, accusing the AI giant of stealing trade secrets. — Karey Van Hall, semafor.com, 10 July 2026

In 1852, he was sentenced to eighteen months of hard labor for stealing five gallons of rum. — Literary Hub, 10 July 2026