Definitions
- Describing the act of stealing something in a sneaky or secretive manner. - Referring to the theft of something small or of little value. - Talking about taking something without permission or unlawfully.
- Referring to the act of taking something without permission or unlawfully. - Describing the theft of something valuable or significant. - Talking about the act of taking something that belongs to someone else without their knowledge or consent.
List of Similarities
- 1Both involve taking something without permission or unlawfully.
- 2Both are forms of theft.
- 3Both can have legal consequences.
- 4Both involve dishonesty and lack of integrity.
- 5Both can cause harm or loss to the victim.
What is the difference?
- 1Value: Purloin is often used for small or insignificant items, while steal can refer to anything of value.
- 2Intent: Purloin implies a sneaky or secretive manner, while steal can be more direct or forceful.
- 3Connotation: Purloin has a slightly less negative connotation than steal, which is associated with more serious or harmful theft.
- 4Frequency: Steal is a more commonly used word than purloin in everyday language.
- 5Formality: Purloin is a more formal word than steal, which is more versatile and can be used in both formal and informal contexts.
Remember this!
Purloin and steal are synonyms that both refer to the act of taking something without permission or unlawfully. However, purloin is often used for small or insignificant items and implies a sneaky or secretive manner, while steal can refer to anything of value and can be more direct or forceful. Additionally, steal has a more negative connotation and is more commonly used in everyday language.
