What context can I use each word in?
Learn when and how to use these words with these examples!
gagging
Example
The smell of the garbage was so bad that I started gagging. [gagging: present participle]
Example
I couldn't eat the food because it was so spicy that it made me gag. [gag: verb]
retching
Example
The smell of the rotten eggs made me start retching. [retching: present participle]
Example
After drinking too much alcohol, he spent the night retching in the bathroom. [retch: verb]
Good things to know
Which word is more common?
Gagging is more commonly used than retching in everyday language. Gagging is a milder reaction that can occur more frequently in response to various stimuli, while retching is a more severe and less common reaction.
Whatโs the difference in the tone of formality between gagging and retching?
Both gagging and retching are informal words that are typically used in casual conversations or informal writing. Neither word is considered formal or appropriate for professional or academic contexts.
