What context can I use each word in?
Learn when and how to use these words with these examples!
starve
Example
The family was so poor that they often went to bed hungry and starved. [starved: past tense]
Example
He decided to starve himself as a form of protest against the government's policies. [starve: verb]
deprive
Example
The pandemic has deprived many people of their jobs and livelihoods. [deprived: past participle]
Example
She felt deprived of love and affection in her childhood. [deprived: adjective]
Good things to know
Which word is more common?
Deprive is more commonly used than starve in everyday language. Deprive is versatile and covers a wide range of contexts, while starve is less common and refers specifically to extreme hunger and malnutrition.
What’s the difference in the tone of formality between starve and deprive?
Both starve and deprive can be used in formal and informal contexts, but deprive is more versatile and neutral in tone, making it more appropriate for formal situations.
