What context can I use each word in?
Learn when and how to use these words with these examples!
scuttled
Example
The mouse scuttled across the floor and disappeared under the couch. [scuttled: verb]
Example
The sailors scuttled the ship to prevent it from falling into enemy hands. [scuttled: past tense]
scurry
Example
The children scurried around the playground, playing tag and laughing. [scurried: past tense]
Example
The ants scurried back and forth, carrying food to their nest. [scurry: verb]
Good things to know
Which word is more common?
Scurry is more commonly used than scuttle in everyday language. Scurry is versatile and covers a wide range of contexts, while scuttle is less common and has more specific connotations.
What’s the difference in the tone of formality between scuttled and scurry?
Both scuttle and scurry are informal words and are not typically used in formal contexts.