What context can I use each word in?
Learn when and how to use these words with these examples!
dain
Example
She looked at him with dain as he stumbled over his words. [dain: noun]
Example
He dained to speak to me only after I apologized. [dained: past tense verb]
esteem
Example
I hold her in high esteem for her hard work and dedication. [esteem: noun]
Example
He is esteemed by his colleagues for his expertise in the field. [esteemed: past participle adjective]
Good things to know
Which word is more common?
Esteem is more commonly used than dain in everyday language. Esteem is versatile and covers a wide range of contexts, while dain is less common and more formal.
What’s the difference in the tone of formality between dain and esteem?
While dain is typically associated with a formal and negative tone, esteem is more versatile and can be employed in various formality levels, allowing it to be used in both formal and informal contexts.