# smear vs steal

> English confusable word pair

## The two words

### smear
*verb · IPA /smɪə(ɹ)/ · frequency rank #15,912*
To spread (a substance, especially one that colours or is dirty) across a surface by rubbing.

### steal
*verb · IPA /stiːl/ · frequency rank #3,585*
To take illegally, or without the owner's permission, something owned by someone else without intending to return it.

## Source
Compiled from Wiktionary via kaikki.org (CC BY-SA). Data vintage: 2026-05-06.
Canonical page: https://plainspell.com/en/vs/smear-vs-steal