What context can I use each word in?
Learn when and how to use these words with these examples!
harm
Example
The chemicals in the cleaning product can harm your skin. [harm: verb]
Example
The new policy could cause harm to the company's reputation. [harm: noun]
hurt
Example
I hurt my ankle while playing soccer. [hurt: verb]
Example
Her words hurt my feelings. [hurt: verb]
Good things to know
Which word is more common?
Hurt is more commonly used than harm in everyday language. Hurt is versatile and covers a wide range of contexts, while harm is less common and often used in legal or academic contexts.
What’s the difference in the tone of formality between harm and hurt?
Harm is more formal than hurt and is often used in legal or academic contexts. Hurt is more casual and colloquial, and is commonly used in everyday language.
