What context can I use each word in?
Learn when and how to use these words with these examples!
cant
Example
The painting was hung at a slight cant to create an interesting visual effect. [cant: noun]
Example
She tilted her head to the side in a cant position to listen more closely. [cant: adjective]
tilt
Example
The tower started to tilt dangerously after the earthquake. [tilt: verb]
Example
He won the game with a tilt of his opponent's king. [tilt: noun]
Good things to know
Which word is more common?
Tilt is more commonly used than cant in everyday language. Tilt is versatile and covers a wider range of contexts, while cant is less common and has more specific meanings.
What’s the difference in the tone of formality between cant and tilt?
While cant is typically associated with a more formal tone when referring to biased viewpoints or specific jargon, tilt is more versatile and can be used in both formal and informal contexts.