What context can I use each word in?
Learn when and how to use these words with these examples!
hurl
Example
The angry player hurled the ball across the court. [hurled: past tense]
Example
She hurled insults at her opponent during the argument. [hurled: verb]
throw
Example
He threw the ball to his friend. [threw: past tense]
Example
She can throw a frisbee really far. [throw: verb]
Good things to know
Which word is more common?
Throw is more commonly used than hurl in everyday language. Throw is versatile and covers a wide range of contexts, while hurl is less common and often used in more specific situations where force or violence is involved.
What’s the difference in the tone of formality between hurl and throw?
While hurl is typically associated with a more intense and informal tone, throw is more versatile and can be employed in various formality levels, allowing it to be used in both formal and informal contexts.