What context can I use each word in?
Learn when and how to use these words with these examples!
cure
Example
The doctor prescribed antibiotics to cure the infection. [cure: verb]
Example
This medicine is a cure for headaches. [cure: noun]
Example
The new policy aims to cure the company's financial problems. [cure: verb]
heal
Example
The wound took several weeks to heal. [heal: verb]
Example
This ointment promotes healing of skin irritations. [healing: adjective]
Example
The therapist helped her heal from the emotional trauma of the accident. [heal: verb]
Good things to know
Which word is more common?
Heal is more commonly used than cure in everyday language. Heal is versatile and covers a wide range of contexts, while cure is more specific and tends to be used in medical or scientific contexts.
What’s the difference in the tone of formality between cure and heal?
Both cure and heal can be used in formal and informal contexts, but cure may have a more technical or scientific connotation, while heal may have a more personal or emotional connotation.
