Gravel vs. Grovel — What's the Difference?
By Fiza Rafique & Maham Liaqat — Updated on May 6, 2024
Gravel is a collection of small stones often used in construction, while grovel means to humble oneself or act submissively, often to gain favor or forgiveness.
Difference Between Gravel and Grovel
Table of Contents
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Key Differences
Gravel consists of small stones commonly used for roadways or landscaping. In contrast, grovel is an action that involves lowering oneself to show submission or plead for favor.
Gravel serves practical purposes in construction and pathways, offering stable, durable surfaces. Groveling, on the other hand, involves actions like kneeling or bowing to gain someone's sympathy or favor.
Gravel provides traction on driveways or paths, preventing vehicles from skidding. Conversely, when someone grovels, it often implies desperation or excessive humility, typically to seek approval or pardon.
Gravel can be natural or mechanically crushed, used in various sizes and shapes. Meanwhile, groveling is purely behavioral, marked by submissive physical postures.
Gravel is tangible, being visible and tactile. On the other hand, groveling is metaphorical, representing a state of submission or exaggerated respect.
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Comparison Chart
Nature
Collection of small stones
Action of humbling oneself
Usage
Construction, landscaping
Pleading, gaining favor or forgiveness
Physicality
Tangible and solid
Metaphorical and behavioral
Origin
Naturally occurring or crushed by machines
Language-based action
Associated Terms
Aggregate, crushed stone
Beg, plead, kowtow
Compare with Definitions
Gravel
Small stones used for construction.
The path to the cabin was covered in gravel.
Grovel
To humble oneself by crawling or kneeling.
The servant grovelled before the king.
Gravel
Coarse materials for landscaping.
They chose gravel over mulch for their garden.
Grovel
To show excessive submission to please someone.
He had to grovel for his boss's forgiveness.
Gravel
A surface layer of crushed stones.
The new parking lot was topped with gravel.
Grovel
To degrade oneself to gain favor.
He would grovel to avoid punishment.
Gravel
Aggregates used for creating stable surfaces.
Gravel ensures good traction on this driveway.
Grovel
To lower oneself in shame or fear.
She refused to grovel for a second chance.
Gravel
Pebble-like rocks deposited naturally by water.
The riverbed was filled with gravel.
Grovel
To make one's intentions evident by submissive actions.
He will grovel in front of the client to seal the deal.
Gravel
Gravel is a loose aggregation of rock fragments. Gravel is classified by particle size range and includes size classes from granule- to boulder-sized fragments.
Grovel
To behave in a servile or obsequious manner.
Gravel
An unconsolidated mixture of rock fragments or pebbles.
Grovel
To lie or creep in a prostrate position, as in subservience or humility.
Gravel
(Medicine) The sandlike granular material of urinary calculi.
Grovel
To give oneself over to base pleasures
"Have we not groveled here long enough, eating and drinking like mere brutes?" (Walt Whitman).
Gravel
To apply a surface of rock fragments or pebbles to.
Grovel
(intransitive) To be prone on the ground.
Gravel
To confuse; perplex.
Grovel
(intransitive) To crawl.
Gravel
(Informal) To irritate.
Grovel
(intransitive) To abase oneself before another person.
Gravel
(uncountable) Small fragments of rock, used for laying on the beds of roads and railways, and as ballast.
Grovel
(intransitive) To be slavishly nice to someone or apologize in the hope of securing something.
Gravel
A type or grade of small rocks, differentiated by mineral type, size range, or other characteristics.
Grovel
(intransitive) To take pleasure in mundane activities. en
Gravel
A particle from 2 to 64 mm in diameter, following the Wentworth scale.
Grovel
To creep on the earth, or with the face to the ground; to lie prone, or move uneasily with the body prostrate on the earth; to lie flat on one's belly, expressive of abjectness; to crawl.
To creep and grovel on the ground.
Gravel
Kidney stones; a deposit of small calculous concretions in the kidneys and the urinary or gall bladder; also, the disease of which they are a symptom.
Grovel
To tend toward, or delight in, what is sensual or base; to be low, abject, or mean.
Gravel
A lameness in the foot of a horse, usually caused by an abscess.
Grovel
Show submission or fear
Gravel
(rare) Inability to see at night; night blindness.
Gravel
Gravel cycling, a discipline in cycling different from road cycling, mountain biking or cyclocross, for a large part on gravel roads, typically with a dedicated gravel bike
Gravel
(transitive) To apply a layer of gravel to the surface of a road, etc.
Gravel
To puzzle or annoy.
Gravel
To run (as a ship) upon the gravel or beach; to run aground; to cause to stick fast in gravel or sand.
Gravel
To check or stop; to confound; to perplex.
Gravel
To hurt or lame (a horse) by gravel lodged between the shoe and foot.
Gravel
Small stones, or fragments of stone; very small pebbles, often intermixed with particles of sand.
Gravel
A deposit of small calculous concretions in the kidneys and the urinary or gall bladder; also, the disease of which they are a symptom.
Gravel
To cover with gravel; as, to gravel a walk.
Gravel
To run (as a ship) upon the gravel or beach; to run aground; to cause to stick fast in gravel or sand.
When we were fallen into a place between two seas, they graveled the ship.
Willam the Conqueror . . . chanced as his arrival to be graveled; and one of his feet stuck so fast in the sand that he fell to the ground.
Gravel
To check or stop; to embarrass; to perplex.
When you were graveled for lack of matter.
The physician was so graveled and amazed withal, that he had not a word more to say.
Gravel
To hurt or lame (a horse) by gravel lodged between the shoe and foot.
Gravel
Rock fragments and pebbles
Gravel
Cause annoyance in; disturb, especially by minor irritations;
Mosquitoes buzzing in my ear really bothers me
It irritates me that she never closes the door after she leaves
Gravel
Cover with gravel;
We gravelled the driveway
Gravel
Be a mystery or bewildering to;
This beats me!
Got me--I don't know the answer!
A vexing problem
This question really stuck me
Gravel
Unpleasantly harsh or grating in sound;
A gravelly voice
Common Curiosities
Is groveling always negative?
Usually, yes. It implies excessive submission or humiliation to gain favor.
Are there different types of gravel?
Yes, gravel can vary in size, shape, and purpose, including pea gravel, crushed stone, and river gravel.
Can gravel be used for driveways?
Yes, gravel is often used to pave driveways because it provides good drainage and traction.
What is the origin of gravel?
Gravel can be naturally formed or created through crushing stones.
How does grovel differ from apologize?
Apologizing involves admitting fault, whereas groveling entails excessive submission.
Why do people grovel?
People grovel to seek approval, forgiveness, or favor from someone they view as superior.
Can gravel be used in gardening?
Yes, gravel can be used in garden paths or as decorative mulch.
Does gravel have specific grading standards?
Yes, gravel is graded by size and composition for various applications.
Is groveling a natural response?
Groveling is often a learned behavior used in situations involving fear or desperation.
Is gravel environmentally friendly?
It depends on sourcing; natural gravel is often more environmentally friendly than processed materials.
How can groveling affect one's reputation?
It can damage one's reputation, suggesting a lack of self-respect or independence.
Is groveling common in workplace environments?
It can occur where employees feel compelled to excessively please their superiors.
Can gravel affect plant growth?
It depends on the type of plants and soil. Gravel can provide drainage but may limit root growth.
Can gravel be recycled?
Yes, recycled gravel from construction debris can be reused in new projects.
Is groveling culturally specific?
Groveling behavior can vary by culture, but it generally conveys submission or pleading.
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Written by
Fiza RafiqueFiza Rafique is a skilled content writer at AskDifference.com, where she meticulously refines and enhances written pieces. Drawing from her vast editorial expertise, Fiza ensures clarity, accuracy, and precision in every article. Passionate about language, she continually seeks to elevate the quality of content for readers worldwide.
Co-written by
Maham Liaqat
