What context can I use each word in?
Learn when and how to use these words with these examples!
besotted
Example
He was besotted with his new girlfriend and couldn't stop thinking about her. [besotted: adjective]
Example
She became besotted with the idea of becoming a famous actress and dedicated all her time to pursuing it. [besotted: past participle]
smitten
Example
From the moment they met, he was smitten with her and couldn't get her out of his mind. [smitten: verb]
Example
She was smitten by the beautiful sunset and couldn't take her eyes off it. [smitten: adjective]
Good things to know
Which word is more common?
Smitten is more commonly used than besotted in everyday language. Smitten is versatile and can be used to describe various intense emotions, while besotted is less common and tends to be used specifically for strong feelings of love or infatuation.
What’s the difference in the tone of formality between besotted and smitten?
While besotted is typically associated with a casual and informal tone, smitten can be employed in both formal and informal contexts, making it more versatile in terms of formality.
