What context can I use each word in?
Learn when and how to use these words with these examples!
hoarder
Example
My neighbor is a hoarder and has stacks of newspapers and magazines piled up in their house. [hoarder: noun]
Example
She couldn't bear to throw away her old clothes, so she became a hoarder. [hoarder: verb]
accumulator
Example
He is an accumulator of rare coins and has a carefully curated collection. [accumulator: noun]
Example
She likes to accumulate books on a particular subject to deepen her knowledge. [accumulate: verb]
Good things to know
Which word is more common?
Hoarder is more commonly used than accumulator in everyday language, especially in the context of excessive accumulation and clutter. Accumulator is less common but is often used in the context of intentional and organized collecting.
What’s the difference in the tone of formality between hoarder and accumulator?
Both hoarder and accumulator are neutral in terms of formality and can be used in both formal and informal contexts.
