What context can I use each word in?
Learn when and how to use these words with these examples!
abandoned
Example
The abandoned house was overgrown with weeds and vines. [abandoned: adjective]
Example
The puppy was abandoned by its owner and left to fend for itself. [abandoned: verb]
Example
The project was abandoned due to lack of funding. [abandoned: past participle]
forsaken
Example
The forsaken village was in ruins, with no signs of life. [forsaken: adjective]
Example
She felt forsaken by her friends after they stopped returning her calls. [forsaken: verb]
Example
The project was forsaken after months of setbacks and delays. [forsaken: past participle]
Good things to know
Which word is more common?
Abandoned is more commonly used than forsaken in everyday language, and covers a wider range of contexts. Forsaken is less common and more likely to be used in literary or poetic contexts.
What’s the difference in the tone of formality between abandoned and forsaken?
Both abandoned and forsaken are relatively formal words, but abandoned is more versatile and can be used in both formal and informal contexts.
