What context can I use each word in?
Learn when and how to use these words with these examples!
faintly
Example
I could hear the faintly whispered conversation from the next room. [faintly: adverb]
Example
The outline of the distant mountains was faintly visible against the evening sky. [faintly: adjective]
Example
She felt faintly uneasy about the situation but couldn't quite put her finger on why. [faintly: adverb]
vaguely
Example
I vaguely remember meeting him at a party a few years ago. [vaguely: adverb]
Example
He gave a vague explanation for his absence from work last week. [vague: adjective]
Example
She felt vaguely dissatisfied with her job but couldn't pinpoint exactly why. [vaguely: adverb]
Good things to know
Which word is more common?
Vaguely is more commonly used than faintly in everyday language. Vaguely is versatile and covers a wide range of contexts, while faintly is less common and refers to a specific type of sensory experience.
What’s the difference in the tone of formality between faintly and vaguely?
Both faintly and vaguely are relatively neutral in terms of formality and can be used in both formal and informal contexts.
