What context can I use each word in?
Learn when and how to use these words with these examples!
robbed
Example
The store was robbed at gunpoint last night. [robbed: past tense]
Example
I was robbed of my wallet on the street. [robbed: past participle]
steal
Example
He stole a candy bar from the store. [stole: past tense]
Example
She was caught stealing money from her employer. [stealing: present participle]
Good things to know
Which word is more common?
Steal is more commonly used than robbed in everyday language. Steal is versatile and covers a wide range of contexts, while robbed is less common and refers to a specific type of theft involving force or threat.
Whatโs the difference in the tone of formality between robbed and steal?
Both robbed and steal are typically associated with an informal tone, but robbed may be used in more formal contexts such as legal or news reports to describe a specific crime.
