What context can I use each word in?
Learn when and how to use these words with these examples!
ooze
Example
The water began to ooze out of the crack in the dam. [ooze: verb]
Example
The wound continued to ooze blood even after it was bandaged. [oozing: gerund or present participle]
sludge
Example
The factory's wastewater was full of sludge and needed to be treated before being released into the river. [sludge: noun]
Example
The boat struggled to move through the sludge at the bottom of the lake. [sludge: noun]
Good things to know
Which word is more common?
Ooze is less common than sludge in everyday language. Sludge is often used in environmental or industrial contexts, while ooze is more versatile and can be used in various contexts.
What’s the difference in the tone of formality between ooze and sludge?
Both ooze and sludge are typically associated with an informal tone, but sludge is more commonly used in technical or scientific contexts, making it more formal in those settings.
