What context can I use each word in?
Learn when and how to use these words with these examples!
boil
Example
I need to boil some water for tea. [boil: verb]
Example
She boiled the potatoes until they were soft. [boiled: past tense]
Example
His blood began to boil when he heard the news. [boil: verb]
seethe
Example
She seethed with anger when she found out about the betrayal. [seethe: verb]
Example
The city streets were seething with protesters demanding justice. [seething: present participle]
Example
He could feel the seething tension in the room as the argument escalated. [seething: adjective]
Good things to know
Which word is more common?
Boil is more commonly used than seethe in everyday language. Boil is a versatile word that can be used in various contexts related to cooking or heating liquids. Seethe, on the other hand, is less common and is mainly used to describe intense emotional states or situations.
What’s the difference in the tone of formality between boil and seethe?
Both boil and seethe can be used in both formal and informal contexts. However, boil is more commonly used in everyday language, making it slightly more informal compared to seethe, which is less common and may be used in more formal or literary contexts.
