What context can I use each word in?
Learn when and how to use these words with these examples!
dry
Example
The towel is dry now after being in the sun for a while. [dry: adjective]
Example
The drought has left the fields dry and barren. [dry: adjective]
Example
His jokes fell flat, and the conversation was dry and boring. [dry: adjective]
parched
Example
The desert is a parched and unforgiving landscape. [parched: adjective]
Example
After hiking for hours, I was parched and desperate for water. [parched: adjective]
Example
The crops were withering in the parched fields due to the prolonged drought. [parched: adjective]
Good things to know
Which word is more common?
Dry is a more common word than parched and is used in everyday language to describe a wide range of situations and objects. Parched is less common and is usually used in specific contexts related to drought, thirst, or extreme dryness.
What’s the difference in the tone of formality between dry and parched?
Both dry and parched are neutral words that can be used in both formal and informal contexts without any issues.