What context can I use each word in?
Learn when and how to use these words with these examples!
puffy
Example
She woke up with puffy eyes after crying all night. [puffy: adjective]
Example
The clouds looked puffy and white against the blue sky. [puffy: adjective]
swollen
Example
Her ankle was swollen after she sprained it playing soccer. [swollen: adjective]
Example
The mosquito bite caused her arm to become swollen and itchy. [swollen: adjective]
Good things to know
Which word is more common?
Swollen is more commonly used than puffy in medical contexts and to describe more serious conditions. Puffy is more commonly used in everyday language to describe a milder form of swelling or to refer to non-medical objects.
What’s the difference in the tone of formality between puffy and swollen?
Both puffy and swollen can be used in formal and informal contexts, but swollen is more commonly used in medical or technical contexts, while puffy is more casual and informal.
