Dredge vs. Drudge: What's the Difference?
Dredge and drudge are verbs often confused due to their similarity in sound, but they boast different meanings and uses. Dredge typically refers to the process of cleaning, deepening, or widening a waterway by scooping out mud, weeds, and rubbish. In contrast, drudge describes engaging in tedious, menial, or monotonous work.
How do you use the word dredge in a sentence?
The word dredge is often used in the context of maritime activities, environmental engineering, or cooking. When referring to water bodies, it implies the removal of sediment or debris to maintain the channel's depth. In cooking, dredge means coating wet or moist foods with a dry ingredient before cooking to add texture.
Examples of dredge in a sentence
- The team prepared to dredge the canal to ensure that larger ships could pass through.
- Before frying the chicken, she dredged each piece in seasoned flour.
- Archaeologists had to dredge the bottom of the lake to find remnants of the ancient settlement.
How do you use the word drudge in a sentence?
The term drudge is used to embody the feeling of weariness and persistence associated with dull and repetitive tasks. It often carries a negative connotation, suggesting a lack of fulfillment or engagement in the work being performed. Drudge can also act as a noun, referring to someone who does such laborious tasks.
Examples of drudge in a sentence
- After years of drudging away at the same job, he finally decided to pursue his dream career.
- Many writers start as drudges, performing the menial job of proofreading before they get their big break.
- She often felt like a drudge, endlessly cleaning and taking care of the household chores.
Dredge and drudge definition, parts of speech, and pronunciation
Dredge definition:
Dredge (verb) means to clear out the bed of (a harbor, river, or other area of water) by scooping out mud, weeds, and rubbish with a dredge. In cooking, it refers to the act of sprinkling or coating with flour or some other fine substance.
Dredge parts of speech:
Dredge pronunciation:
Dredge is pronounced as /drɛdʒ/.
Drudge definition:
Drudge (verb) is to do hard, menial, or monotonous work. As a noun, a drudge is a person who does tedious, menial, or unpleasant work.
Drudge parts of speech:
Drudge pronunciation:
Drudge is pronounced as /drʌdʒ/.
Dredge (verb) means to clear out the bed of (a harbor, river, or other area of water) by scooping out mud, weeds, and rubbish with a dredge. In cooking, it refers to the act of sprinkling or coating with flour or some other fine substance.
Dredge parts of speech:
- As a verb: We will need to dredge this pond regularly to prevent it from becoming stagnant.
- As a noun (less common): The fisherman used a small dredge to collect oysters from the bay.
Dredge pronunciation:
Dredge is pronounced as /drɛdʒ/.
Drudge definition:
Drudge (verb) is to do hard, menial, or monotonous work. As a noun, a drudge is a person who does tedious, menial, or unpleasant work.
Drudge parts of speech:
- As a verb: She drudges through her workday, eagerly waiting for the weekend.
- As a noun: The office drudge is often the first to arrive and the last to leave.
Drudge pronunciation:
Drudge is pronounced as /drʌdʒ/.
Dredge vs. drudge in a nutshell
Despite their phonetic similarities, dredge and drudge differ significantly in meaning. Dredge is rooted in physical or mechanical activities involving removal or coating, often seen in maritime work or culinary contexts. Drudge, on the other hand, captures the essence of laborious toil associated with monotonous tasks and is used to denote both the act of working arduously and the person performing such work. Remembering these distinct uses will help prevent mix-ups between the two verbs.
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