# squeal vs steal

> English confusable word pair

## The two words

### squeal
*noun · IPA /skwiːl/ · frequency rank #35,955*
A high-pitched sound, such as the scream of a child or a female person, or noisy worn-down brake pads.

### 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/squeal-vs-steal