What context can I use each word in?
Learn when and how to use these words with these examples!
brat
Example
The little boy was being a brat and throwing his toys around. [brat: noun]
Example
She can be such a brat sometimes, always demanding attention. [brat: adjective]
imp
Example
The impish little girl giggled as she hid her brother's toy. [impish: adjective]
Example
He's such an imp, always finding ways to tease and play tricks on people. [imp: noun]
Good things to know
Which word is more common?
Brat is more commonly used in everyday language to describe a badly behaved child, while imp is less common and often used in literature or fantasy contexts to describe mischievous characters.
What’s the difference in the tone of formality between brat and imp?
Both brat and imp are informal words, but brat is more widely used in casual conversations, while imp is more commonly found in literature or when talking about fictional characters.