What context can I use each word in?
Learn when and how to use these words with these examples!
scuttle
Example
The mouse scuttled across the floor and disappeared into a hole. [scuttled: past tense]
Example
The crab scuttled sideways along the beach. [scuttled: verb]
scamper
Example
The children scampered around the playground, laughing and playing. [scampered: past tense]
Example
The cat scampered up the tree to escape the barking dog. [scampered: verb]
Good things to know
Which word is more common?
Scamper is more commonly used than scuttle in everyday language. Scamper is often used to describe the playful movements of small animals, while scuttle is less common and often used to describe the hurried movements of creatures like crabs or humans.
What’s the difference in the tone of formality between scuttle and scamper?
Both scuttle and scamper are informal and playful words, and are not typically used in formal contexts.
