What context can I use each word in?
Learn when and how to use these words with these examples!
proverbial
Example
He was the proverbial 'needle in a haystack' when it came to finding a good employee. [proverbial: adjective]
Example
The company's financial troubles were the proverbial elephant in the room that no one wanted to discuss. [proverbial: adjective]
notorious
Example
The city was notorious for its high crime rate and unsafe streets. [notorious: adjective]
Example
The politician was notorious for his corrupt practices and unethical behavior. [notorious: adjective]
Good things to know
Which word is more common?
Proverbial is more commonly used than notorious in everyday language. Proverbial is versatile and covers a wide range of contexts, while notorious is less common and is only used in negative contexts.
Whatโs the difference in the tone of formality between proverbial and notorious?
Both proverbial and notorious are typically associated with an informal tone, although notorious may be used in more formal contexts to describe a negative situation or behavior.
