What context can I use each word in?
Learn when and how to use these words with these examples!
pelted
Example
The protesters pelted the police with rocks and bottles. [pelted: past tense]
Example
The hailstones pelted down on the roof, making a loud noise. [pelted: verb]
hurled
Example
He hurled the ball across the field, scoring a goal. [hurled: past tense]
Example
She hurled insults at him, causing him to storm out of the room. [hurled: verb]
Good things to know
Which word is more common?
Hurl is more commonly used than pelted in everyday language. Hurl is versatile and covers a wide range of contexts, while pelted is less common and refers to a specific type of throwing action.
What’s the difference in the tone of formality between pelted and hurled?
Both pelted and hurled are informal words and are not typically used in formal writing or speech.