Hurl vs. Throw — What's the Difference?
Edited by Tayyaba Rehman — By Urooj Arif — Updated on May 7, 2024
"Hurl" implies a forceful or violent throw, often with emotion or intensity, whereas "throw" is a general term for moving something through the air with one's hand or arm.
Difference Between Hurl and Throw
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Key Differences
Hurl is typically used to describe a throw with great force or speed, often conveying a sense of aggression or carelessness. For example, hurling a rock through a window suggests more intensity and possibly anger compared to merely throwing a rock. On the other hand, throw is a broader term that encompasses any motion of projecting something through the air using the arms and hands, without inherently implying force or emotion.
When discussing actions in sports, hurl might be used for dramatic, powerful actions, such as in baseball when a pitcher hurls the ball towards the batter with high velocity. In contrast, throw could be used in a variety of sports contexts from a gentle toss of a ball to a teammate to a vigorous throw to score a goal.
In literary or expressive contexts, hurl is often chosen to enhance the description of an action, imbuing it with a sense of violence or intensity. For example, a character in a novel might hurl insults at another, suggesting a vehement outburst. Conversely, throw might be used in more neutral or mundane contexts, such as someone throwing a ball for a dog.
The physical effort involved in hurling something is typically greater than in throwing. Hurling suggests using a lot of energy or strength, possibly without regard for precision or consequences. Throw, however, can be precise and controlled, as seen in sports like discus or darts where technique and accuracy are crucial.
Hurl can also have specific connotations in different regions. For instance, in Ireland, "hurling" refers to a traditional field sport, which is physically demanding and fast-paced, aligning with the vigorous connotations of the word. Meanwhile, throw retains a more universal meaning and application across various contexts.
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Comparison Chart
Definition
To throw something with great force or speed.
To project something through the air with hand or arm.
Connotation
Often aggressive or intense.
Neutral, general action.
Usage in context
Used to emphasize force or emotion in the action.
Used in a wide range of contexts without inherent emotional implications.
Effort involved
Implies significant force and energy.
Can range from gentle to forceful.
Precision
Less focus on precision, more on the power of the action.
Can be precise, depending on the context.
Compare with Definitions
Hurl
Less associated with precision, more with the power of the action.
The protesters hurled stones at the barricades.
Throw
To cause an object to move through the air by propelling it with one's hand or arm.
She threw the ball to her friend.
Hurl
To throw something with a lot of force.
He hurled the ball down the field.
Throw
Used in various contexts from gentle to vigorous actions.
Throw a pillow onto the couch.
Hurl
To send an object flying with intensity.
She hurled the plate against the wall in frustration.
Throw
A general term for moving objects through the air.
He can throw a baseball very fast.
Hurl
Often used to describe forceful, violent, or emotional throws.
In anger, he hurled insults at the other drivers.
Throw
Does not inherently carry emotional or forceful connotations.
She threw a glance over her shoulder.
Hurl
Can imply a reckless or aggressive manner.
He hurled himself into the fray without a second thought.
Throw
Can involve precision and skill, such as in sports.
The quarterback threw the football perfectly to the receiver.
Hurl
Throw or impel (someone or something) with great force
He hurled himself into the job with enthusiasm
Rioters hurled a brick through the windscreen
Throw
To propel through the air with a motion of the hand or arm.
Hurl
A ride in a vehicle; a lift
Hey pal, any chance of a hurl?
Throw
To propel or discharge into the air by any means
A machine that throws tennis balls.
Ash that was thrown by an erupting volcano.
Hurl
To throw with great force; fling.
Throw
To cause to move with great force or speed; propel or displace
Threw themselves on the food.
Jetsam that had been thrown up onto the shore.
Hurl
To cause to move with great force or violence
The bus's sudden stop hurled the passengers to the floor.
Throw
To force (an opponent) to the ground or floor, as in wrestling or the martial arts.
Hurl
To send with great vigor; thrust
Hurled the army against the enemy.
Throw
To cause to fall off
The horse threw its rider.
Hurl
To utter vehemently
Hurled insults at the speaker.
Throw
(Informal) To cause confusion or perplexity in; disconcert or nonplus
We didn't let our worries throw us.
Hurl
(Slang) To vomit (the contents of the stomach).
Throw
To put on or off hastily or carelessly
Throw on a jacket.
Hurl
To move with great speed, force, or violence; hurtle.
Throw
To put suddenly or forcefully into a given condition, position, or activity
Threw him into a fit of laughter.
Threw some supper together.
Threw her leg over the arm of the chair.
Hurl
To throw something with force.
Throw
To devote, apply, or direct
Threw all their resources into the new endeavor.
Threw the blame onto the others.
Hurl
(Slang) To vomit.
Throw
To form on a potter's wheel
Throw a vase.
Hurl
(Baseball) To pitch the ball.
Throw
To twist (fibers) into thread.
Hurl
(transitive) To throw (something) with force.
Throw
To roll (dice).
Hurl
(transitive) To utter (harsh or derogatory speech), especially at its target.
The gangs hurled abuse at each other.
Throw
To roll (a particular combination) with dice.
Hurl
(intransitive) To participate in the sport of hurling.
Throw
To discard or play (a card).
Hurl
To vomit.
Pass me the bucket; I've got to hurl.
Throw
To send forth; project
She threw me a look of encouragement.
Hurl
To twist or turn.
Throw
To cause (one's voice) to seem to come from a source other than oneself.
Hurl
(obsolete) To move rapidly with a noise; to whirl.
Throw
To cause to fall on or over something; cast
The rising sun threw shadows across the lawn. We threw sheets over the furniture before we painted the ceiling.
Hurl
To convey in a wheeled vehicle.
Throw
To bear (young). Used of cows or horses, for example.
Hurl
(countable) A throw, especially a violent throw; a fling.
He managed a hurl of 50.3 metres.
Throw
To arrange or give (a party, for example).
Hurl
(slang) The act of vomiting.
Open the window! I've gotta take a hurl.
Throw
To move (a lever or switch) in order to activate, deactivate, or control a device.
Hurl
Vomit.
Throw
(Informal) To lose or give up (a contest, for example) purposely.
Hurl
The act of hitting the sliotar with the hurley.
Throw
To abandon oneself to; have
Heard the news and threw a fit.
Hurl
A conveyance in a wheeled vehicle; a ride in a car, etc.
Throw
To commit (oneself), especially for leniency or support
Threw himself on the mercy of the court.
Hurl
(obsolete) Tumult; riot; hurly-burly.
Throw
To deliver (a punch), as in boxing
Threw a left hook.
Hurl
A table on which fibre is stirred and mixed by beating with a bow spring.
Throw
To cast, fling, or hurl something.
Hurl
To send whirling or whizzing through the air; to throw with violence; to drive with great force; as, to hurl a stone or lance.
And hurl'd them headlong to their fleet and main.
Throw
The act or an instance of throwing.
Hurl
To emit or utter with vehemence or impetuosity; as, to hurl charges or invective.
Throw
The distance to which something is or can be thrown
A stone's throw away.
Hurl
To twist or turn.
Throw
A roll or cast of dice.
Hurl
To hurl one's self; to go quickly.
Throw
The combination of numbers so obtained.
Hurl
To perform the act of hurling something; to throw something (at another).
God shall hurl at him and not spare.
Throw
(Informal) A single chance, venture, or instance
"could afford up to forty-five bucks a throw to wax sentimental over their heritage" (John Simon).
Hurl
To play the game of hurling. See Hurling.
Throw
(Sports) The act of throwing or a technique used to throw an opponent in wrestling or the martial arts.
Hurl
The act of hurling or throwing with violence; a cast; a fling.
Throw
A light blanket or coverlet, such as an afghan.
Hurl
Tumult; riot; hurly-burly.
Throw
A scarf or shawl.
Hurl
A table on which fiber is stirred and mixed by beating with a bowspring.
Throw
The radius of a circle described by a crank, cam, or similar machine part.
Hurl
A violent throw
Throw
The maximum displacement of a machine part moved by another part, such as a crank or cam.
Hurl
Throw forcefully
Throw
(Geology) The amount of vertical displacement of a fault.
Hurl
Make a thrusting forward movement
Throw
(transitive) To hurl; to cause an object to move rapidly through the air.
Throw a shoe; throw a javelin; the horse threw its rider
Hurl
Utter with force; utter vehemently;
Hurl insults
Throw accusations at someone
Throw
(transitive) To eject or cause to fall off.
Throw
(transitive) To move to another position or condition; to displace.
Throw the switch
Throw
(ceramics) To make (a pot) by shaping clay as it turns on a wheel.
Throw
To deliver (the ball) illegally by straightening the bowling arm during delivery.
Throw
To send (an error) to an exception-handling mechanism in order to interrupt normal processing.
If the file is read-only, the method throws an invalid-operation exception.
Throw
To intentionally lose a game.
The tennis player was accused of taking bribes to throw the match.
Throw
To confuse or mislead.
The deliberate red herring threw me at first.
Throw
(figuratively) To send desperately.
Their sergeant threw the troops into pitched battle.
Throw
(transitive) To imprison.
The magistrate ordered the suspect to be thrown into jail.
Throw
To organize an event, especially a party.
Throw
(ambitransitive) To roll (a die or dice).
Throw
(transitive) To cause a certain number on the die or dice to be shown after rolling it.
Throw
To discard.
Throw
(martial arts) To lift the opponent off the ground and bring him back down, especially into a position behind the thrower.
Throw
To change in order to give the illusion that the voice is that of someone else.
Throw
(transitive) To show sudden emotion, especially anger.
Throw
(transitive) To project or send forth.
Throw
To put on hastily; to spread carelessly. I don't see, that "spreading" could be any meaning of "putting on". Was it meant to be a second meaning?
Throw
To twist two or more filaments of (silk, etc.) so as to form one thread; to twist together, as singles, in a direction contrary to the twist of the singles themselves; sometimes applied to the whole class of operations by which silk is prepared for the weaver.
Throw
To select (a pitcher); to assign a pitcher to a given role (such as starter or reliever).
Throw
(transitive) To install (a bridge).
Throw
To twist or turn.
A thrown nail
Throw
(American football) pass
Throw
To deliver.
Throw
Of animals: to give birth to (young).
Throw
Obsolete spelling of throe
Throw
The flight of a thrown object.
What a great throw by the quarterback!
Throw
The act of throwing something.
With an accurate throw, he lassoed the cow.
The gambler staked everything on one throw of the dice.
Throw
One's ability to throw.
He's got a girl's throw.
He's always had a pretty decent throw.
Throw
A distance travelled; displacement.
The throw of the piston
Throw
A piece of fabric used to cover a bed, sofa or other soft furnishing.
Throw
A single instance, occurrence, venture, or chance.
Football tickets are expensive at fifty bucks a throw.
Throw
(veterinary medicine) The act of giving birth in animals, especially in cows.
Throw
(obsolete) A moment, time, occasion.
Throw
(obsolete) A period of time; a while.
Throw
Obsolete spelling of throe
Throw
Pain; especially, pain of travail; throe.
Throw
Time; while; space of time; moment; trice.
I will with Thomas speak a little throw.
Throw
The act of hurling or flinging; a driving or propelling from the hand or an engine; a cast.
He heaved a stone, and, rising to the throw,He sent it in a whirlwind at the foe.
Throw
A stroke; a blow.
Nor shield defend the thunder of his throws.
Throw
The distance which a missile is, or may be, thrown; as, a stone's throw.
Throw
A cast of dice; the manner in which dice fall when cast; as, a good throw.
Throw
An effort; a violent sally.
Your youth admiresThe throws and swellings of a Roman soul.
Throw
The extreme movement given to a sliding or vibrating reciprocating piece by a cam, crank, eccentric, or the like; travel; stroke; as, the throw of a slide valve. Also, frequently, the length of the radius of a crank, or the eccentricity of an eccentric; as, the throw of the crank of a steam engine is equal to half the stroke of the piston.
Throw
A potter's wheel or table; a jigger. See 2d Jigger, 2 (a).
Throw
A turner's lathe; a throwe.
Throw
The amount of vertical displacement produced by a fault; - according to the direction it is designated as an upthrow, or a downthrow.
Throw
To fling, cast, or hurl with a certain whirling motion of the arm, to throw a ball; - distinguished from to toss, or to bowl.
Throw
To fling or cast in any manner; to drive to a distance from the hand or from an engine; to propel; to send; as, to throw stones or dust with the hand; a cannon throws a ball; a fire engine throws a stream of water to extinguish flames.
Throw
To drive by violence; as, a vessel or sailors may be thrown upon a rock.
Throw
To cause to take a strategic position; as, he threw a detachment of his army across the river.
Throw
To overturn; to prostrate in wrestling; as, a man throws his antagonist.
Throw
To cast, as dice; to venture at dice.
Set less than thou throwest.
Throw
To put on hastily; to spread carelessly.
O'er his fair limbs a flowery vest he threw.
Throw
To divest or strip one's self of; to put off.
There the snake throws her enameled skin.
Throw
To form or shape roughly on a throwing engine, or potter's wheel, as earthen vessels.
Throw
To give forcible utterance to; to cast; to vent.
I have thrownA brave defiance in King Henry's teeth.
Throw
To bring forth; to produce, as young; to bear; - said especially of rabbits.
Throw
To twist two or more filaments of, as silk, so as to form one thread; to twist together, as singles, in a direction contrary to the twist of the singles themselves; - sometimes applied to the whole class of operations by which silk is prepared for the weaver.
Throw
To perform the act of throwing or casting; to cast; specifically, to cast dice.
Throw
The act of throwing (propelling something through the air with a rapid movement of the arm and wrist);
The catcher made a good throw to second base
Throw
A single chance or instance;
He couldn't afford $50 a throw
Throw
The maximum movement available to a pivoted or reciprocating piece by a cam
Throw
The distance that something can be thrown;
It is just a stone's throw from here
Throw
Bedclothes consisting of a lightweight cloth covering (an afghan or bedspread) that is casually thrown over something
Throw
The throwing of an object in order to determine an outcome randomly;
He risked his fortune on a throw of the dice
Throw
Project through the air;
Throw a frisbee
Throw
Move violently, energetically, or carelessly;
She threw herself forwards
Throw
Get rid of;
He shed his image as a pushy boss
Shed your clothes
Throw
Place or put with great energy;
She threw the blanket around the child
Thrust the money in the hands of the beggar
Throw
Convey or communicate; of a smile, a look, a physical gesture;
Throw a glance
She gave me a dirty look
Throw
Cause to go on or to be engaged or set in operation;
Switch on the light
Throw the lever
Throw
Put or send forth;
She threw the flashlight beam into the corner
The setting sun threw long shadows
Cast a spell
Cast a warm light
Throw
To put into a state or activity hastily, suddenly, or carelessly;
Jane threw dinner together
Throw the car into reverse
Throw
Cause to be confused emotionally
Throw
Utter with force; utter vehemently;
Hurl insults
Throw accusations at someone
Throw
Organize or be responsible for;
Hold a reception
Have, throw, or make a party
Give a course
Throw
Make on a potter's wheel;
She threw a beautiful teapot
Throw
Cause to fall off;
The horse threw its unexperienced rider
Throw
Throw (a die) out onto a flat surface;
Throw a six
Throw
Be confusing or perplexing to; cause to be unable to think clearly;
These questions confuse even the experts
This question completely threw me
This question befuddled even the teacher
Common Curiosities
What sports use the term hurl?
The term is specifically used in the context of hurling, an Irish sport, and can also describe actions in baseball, where pitchers hurl the ball at high speeds.
How does hurl differ from throw in usage?
Hurl is used when the action is forceful or aggressive, while throw is a more neutral term that applies to a wide range of throwing actions.
Can hurl and throw be used interchangeably?
While they can sometimes be used interchangeably, hurl usually adds an element of intensity or aggression that throw does not imply.
Is hurl always negative?
Not necessarily negative, but it often carries connotations of violence, intensity, or lack of control.
What kind of actions might you describe with hurl?
Actions where objects are thrown with significant force, often in a reckless or impassioned manner, such as hurling a rock or hurling insults.
Can hurl be used in a non-physical context?
Yes, hurl can also be used metaphorically, such as hurling insults or accusations, which implies forceful verbal actions.
What are common colloquial uses of throw?
Common uses include phrases like "throw a party," "throw away," or "throw out," which are metaphorical and extend beyond the literal action of throwing.
Is precision more associated with hurl or throw?
Precision is more associated with throw, as in activities requiring accuracy like darts or discus, whereas hurl focuses more on the strength of the throw.
What does it mean to hurl something?
To hurl something means to throw it with great force or speed, often implying a degree of aggression or intensity.
Does the effort involved affect whether to use hurl or throw?
Yes, hurl suggests a greater effort or energy output, often without concern for precision, unlike throw, which can be more controlled.
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Written by
Urooj ArifUrooj is a skilled content writer at Ask Difference, known for her exceptional ability to simplify complex topics into engaging and informative content. With a passion for research and a flair for clear, concise writing, she consistently delivers articles that resonate with our diverse audience.
Edited by
Tayyaba RehmanTayyaba Rehman is a distinguished writer, currently serving as a primary contributor to askdifference.com. As a researcher in semantics and etymology, Tayyaba's passion for the complexity of languages and their distinctions has found a perfect home on the platform. Tayyaba delves into the intricacies of language, distinguishing between commonly confused words and phrases, thereby providing clarity for readers worldwide.
