What context can I use each word in?
Learn when and how to use these words with these examples!
rickety
Example
The old house had a rickety staircase that creaked with every step. [rickety: adjective]
Example
The rickety old man struggled to carry his groceries up the stairs. [rickety: adjective]
Example
The rickety bus rattled down the bumpy road, making everyone nervous. [rickety: adjective]
wobbly
Example
The table was wobbly and needed to be fixed before anyone could eat on it. [wobbly: adjective]
Example
After spinning around in circles, the child felt wobbly and fell over. [wobbly: adjective]
Example
The boat rocked back and forth, making everyone feel wobbly and seasick. [wobbly: adjective]
Good things to know
Which word is more common?
Wobbly is more commonly used than rickety in everyday language. Wobbly is versatile and covers a wide range of contexts, while rickety is less common and refers to a specific type of instability.
What’s the difference in the tone of formality between rickety and wobbly?
Both rickety and wobbly are informal words and are not typically used in formal contexts.
