Sweet vs. Sweat — What's the Difference?
By Tayyaba Rehman — Updated on October 19, 2023
"Sweet" refers to a pleasant taste, like sugar, while "Sweat" is the moisture excreted by skin, often due to heat or exercise.
Difference Between Sweet and Sweat
Table of Contents
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Key Differences
"Sweet" is primarily an adjective used to describe something that has a sugary taste or pleasant disposition. For instance, honey has a sweet flavor. On the other hand, "Sweat" is primarily a noun referring to the salty liquid that the skin produces, especially when hot, exerted, or nervous.
When someone mentions "Sweet" in the context of food, they're often referring to the opposite of savory or bitter tastes. Foods like candy, pastries, and fruits are frequently described as sweet. "Sweat," however, brings to mind images of physical exertion, such as an intense workout, leading to perspiration.
Beyond the literal sense, "Sweet" can be used figuratively to describe experiences, sounds, or personalities that are delightful or agreeable. A melodious tune might be described as having a sweet sound. "Sweat" can also have figurative meanings, such as in the phrase "breaking a sweat," which means exerting effort.
"Sweet" can also be used as a noun, especially in British English, to refer to candy or confectionery. For example, children might be given a bag of sweets. In contrast, "Sweat" can be used as a verb, meaning to excrete the liquid through the skin or to fret about something.
Another differentiation is in their idiomatic usage. Phrases like "sweet dreams" or "home sweet home" emphasize comfort and pleasure. Phrases involving "Sweat," like "don't sweat the small stuff," emphasize not worrying or exerting too much effort on minor matters.
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Comparison Chart
Part of Speech
Primarily an adjective, but can also be a noun.
Primarily a noun, but can also be a verb.
Main Definition
Having a pleasant, sugary taste.
The moisture excreted by the skin, especially when hot or exerted.
Figurative Meaning
Delightful or agreeable experiences, sounds, or personalities.
Exerting effort or being worried about something.
Idiomatic Usage
Used in phrases emphasizing comfort and pleasure (e.g., "sweet dreams").
Used in phrases emphasizing effort or worry (e.g., "don't sweat it").
Opposite Meaning
Opposite of savory or bitter tastes.
Opposite of being dry or calm.
Compare with Definitions
Sweet
Pleasing in general; delightful.
She has a sweet personality.
Sweat
To perspire, especially due to heat or physical activity.
I sweat profusely during my workout.
Sweet
Used to express affection or endearment.
Goodnight, my sweet.
Sweat
To be anxious or worried about something.
Don't sweat the details; everything will be fine.
Sweet
Having the pleasant taste characteristic of sugar or honey; not salt, sour, or bitter
A cup of hot sweet tea
Sweat
A state of anxiety or impatience.
Waiting for the results put me in a sweat.
Sweet
Pleasing in general; delightful
It was the sweet life he had always craved
Sweat
Moisture exuded through the pores of the skin, typically in profuse quantities as a reaction to heat, physical exertion, fever, or fear
Beads of sweat broke out on her brow
Sweet
(of a person or action) pleasant and kind or thoughtful
It was sweet of you to come
A very sweet nurse came along
Sweat
Another term for sweatsuit or sweatpants
Sweet
Used for emphasis in various phrases and exclamations
What had happened? Sweet nothing
Sweat
Exude sweat
He was sweating profusely
Sweet
A small shaped piece of confectionery made with sugar
A bag of sweets
Sweat
Heat (chopped vegetables) slowly in a pan with a small amount of fat, so that they cook in their own juices
Sweat the celery and onions with olive oil and seasoning
Sweet
A sweet dish forming a course of a meal; a pudding or dessert.
Sweat
Subject (metal) to surface melting, especially to fasten or join by solder without a soldering iron
The tyre is sweated on to the wooden parts
Sweet
Used as an affectionate form of address
Hello, my sweet
Sweat
To excrete perspiration through the pores in the skin; perspire.
Sweet
The sweet part or element of something
You have had the bitter, now comes the sweet
Sweat
To exude in droplets, as moisture from certain cheeses or sap from a tree.
Sweet
Having the taste of sugar or a substance containing or resembling sugar, as honey or saccharin.
Sweat
To collect moisture in small drops from the air, as a cold water pipe.
Sweet
Containing or derived from sugar.
Sweat
To release moisture, as hay in the swath.
Sweet
Retaining some natural sugar; not dry
A sweet wine.
Sweat
To ferment, as tobacco during curing.
Sweet
Pleasing to the senses; agreeable
The sweet song of the lark.
A sweet face.
Sweat
(Informal) To work long and hard
Sweated over his term paper.
Sweet
Pleasing to the mind or feelings; gratifying
Sweet revenge.
Sweat
(Informal) To fret or worry
Don't sweat over the bills.
Sweet
Having a pleasing disposition; lovable
A sweet child.
Sweat
To excrete (moisture) through a porous surface, such as the skin.
Sweet
Kind; gracious
It was sweet of him to help out.
Sweat
To excrete (wastes) in perspiration
Sweated out the toxins in the steam room.
Sweet
Fragrant; perfumed
A sweet scent.
Sweat
To have (moisture) condense in small drops on a surface.
Sweet
Not saline or salted
Sweet water.
Sweet butter.
Sweat
To cause to perspire, as by drugs, heat, or strenuous exercise
Running for the train got me sweated up.
Sweet
Not spoiled, sour, or decaying; fresh
Sweet milk.
Sweat
To make damp or wet with perspiration
His shirt was sweated.
Sweet
Free of acid or acidity
Sweet soil.
Sweat
To cause to work excessively; overwork.
Sweet
Low in sulfur content
Sweet fuel oil.
Sweat
To overwork and underpay (employees).
Sweet
(Music) Of, relating to, or being a form of jazz characterized by adherence to a melodic line and to a time signature.
Sweat
To interrogate (someone) under duress
Sweated the suspected spy for hours.
Sweet
Remarkable; outstanding.
Sweat
To extract (information) from someone under duress
The police sweated the information out of the suspect.
Sweet
Used as an intensive
Took his own sweet time to finish.
Earns a sweet million per year.
Sweat
(Metallurgy) To join (metal parts) by interposing cold solder and then heating.
Sweet
In a sweet manner; sweetly.
Sweat
To steam (vegetables or other food).
Sweet
Sweet taste or quality; sweetness.
Sweat
(Informal) To fret or worry about
Don't sweat the details.
Sweet
Something sweet to the taste.
Sweat
The colorless saline moisture excreted by the sweat glands; perspiration.
Sweet
Foods, such as candy, pastries, puddings, or preserves, that are high in sugar content.
Sweat
Condensation of moisture in the form of droplets on a surface.
Sweet
(Informal) Sweet potatoes
Candied sweets.
Sweat
The process of sweating.
Sweet
A sweet dish, such as pudding, served as dessert.
Sweat
A condition or instance of sweating
Worked up a sweat raking leaves.
Sweet
A sweetmeat or confection.
Sweat
Strenuous labor or exertion
It took a lot of sweat to move the piano.
Sweet
A dear or beloved person.
Sweat
A run given to a horse as exercise before a race.
Sweet
Something pleasing to the mind or feelings.
Sweat
(Informal) An anxious, fretful condition
Got myself in a sweat over the deadline.
Sweet
Having a pleasant taste, especially one relating to the basic taste sensation induced by sugar.
A sweet apple
Sweat
A sweatsuit.
Sweet
Having a taste of sugar.
Sweat
Sweatpants.
Sweet
(wine) Retaining a portion of sugar.
Sweet wines are better dessert wines.
Sweat
Fluid that exits the body through pores in the skin usually due to physical stress and/or high temperature for the purpose of regulating body temperature and removing certain compounds from the circulation.
Sweet
Not having a salty taste.
Sweet butter
Sweat
The state of one who sweats; diaphoresis.
Just thinking about the interview tomorrow puts me into a nervous sweat.
Sweet
Having a pleasant smell.
A sweet scent
Sweat
(figurative) Hard work; toil.
Sweet
Not decaying, fermented, rancid, sour, spoiled, or stale.
Sweet milk
Sweat
(figurative) Moisture issuing from any substance.
Sweet
Having a pleasant sound.
A sweet tune
Sweat
A short run by a racehorse as a form of exercise.
Sweet
Having a pleasing disposition.
A sweet child
You're so sweet!
Sweat
(historical) The sweating sickness.
Sweet
Having a helpful disposition.
It was sweet of him to help out.
Sweat
A soldier (especially one who is old or experienced).
Sweet
(mineralogy) Free from excessive unwanted substances like acid or sulphur.
Sweet gas
Sweet soil
Sweet crude oil
Sweat
An extremely competitive player.
Sweet
(informal) Very pleasing; agreeable.
The new Lexus was a sweet birthday gift.
Sweat
(intransitive) To emit sweat.
Sweet
(slang) Doing well; in a good or happy position.
Sweat
(transitive) To cause to excrete moisture through skin.
Sweet
Romantically fixated; enamored with; fond of.
The attraction was mutual and instant; they were sweet on one another from first sight.
Sweat
To cause to perspire.
His physicians attempted to sweat him by most powerful sudorifics.
Sweet
; not salt or brackish.
Sweet water
Sweat
To work hard.
I've been sweating over my essay all day.
Sweet
To the eye; beautiful; mild and attractive; fair.
A sweet face
A sweet colour or complexion
Sweat
(video games) To be extremely dedicated to winning a game; to play competitively.
Sweet
An intensifier.
Sweat
To extract money, labour, etc. from, by exaction or oppression.
To sweat a spendthrift
To sweat labourers
Sweet
Used as a positive response to good news or information.
They're making a sequel? Ah, sweet!
Sweat
To worry.
Sweet
In a sweet manner.
Sweat
To worry about (something).
Don't sweat it!
To sweat the small stuff
Sweet
(uncountable) The basic taste sensation induced by sugar.
Sweat
(transitive) To emit, in the manner of sweat.
To sweat blood
Sweet
A confection made from sugar, or high in sugar content; a candy.
Sweat
(intransitive) To emit moisture.
The cheese will start sweating if you don't refrigerate it.
Sweet
A food eaten for dessert.
Can we see the sweet menu, please?
Sweat
(intransitive) To have drops of water form on (something's surface) due to moisture condensation.
Coasters are a good way to stop a sweating glass from damaging your table.
Sweet
Synonym of sweetheart, a term of affection.
Good evening, my sweet.
Sweat
To solder (a pipe joint) together.
Sweet
(obsolete) That which is sweet or pleasant in odour; a perfume.
Sweat
To stress out.
Stop sweatin' me!
Sweet
(obsolete) Sweetness, delight; something pleasant to the mind or senses.
Sweat
To cook slowly at low heat, in shallow oil and without browning, to reduce moisture content.
Sweet
To sweeten.
Sweat
To remove a portion of (a coin), as by shaking it with others in a bag, so that the friction wears off a small quantity of the metal.
Sweet
Having an agreeable taste or flavor such as that of sugar; saccharine; - opposed to sour and bitter; as, a sweet beverage; sweet fruits; sweet oranges.
Sweat
(intransitive) To suffer a penalty; to smart for one's misdeeds.
Sweet
Pleasing to the smell; fragrant; redolent; balmy; as, a sweet rose; sweet odor; sweet incense.
The breath of these flowers is sweet to me.
Sweat
(transitive) To take a racehorse for a short exercise run.
Sweet
Pleasing to the ear; soft; melodious; harmonious; as, the sweet notes of a flute or an organ; sweet music; a sweet voice; a sweet singer.
To make his English sweet upon his tongue.
A voice sweet, tremulous, but powerful.
Sweat
To excrete sensible moisture from the pores of the skin; to perspire.
Sweet
Pleasing to the eye; beautiful; mild and attractive; fair; as, a sweet face; a sweet color or complexion.
Sweet interchangeOf hill and valley, rivers, woods, and plains.
Sweat
Fig.: To perspire in toil; to work hard; to drudge.
He 'd have the poets sweat.
Sweet
Fresh; not salt or brackish; as, sweet water.
Sweat
To emit moisture, as green plants in a heap.
Sweet
Not changed from a sound or wholesome state. Specifically: (a) Not sour; as, sweet milk or bread. (b) Not state; not putrescent or putrid; not rancid; as, sweet butter; sweet meat or fish.
Sweat
To cause to excrete moisture from the skin; to cause to perspire; as, his physicians attempted to sweat him by most powerful sudorifics.
Sweet
Plaesing to the mind; mild; gentle; calm; amiable; winning; presuasive; as, sweet manners.
Canst thou bind the sweet influence of Pleiades?
Mildness and sweet reasonableness is the one established rule of Christian working.
Sweat
To emit or suffer to flow from the pores; to exude.
It made her not a drop for sweat.
With exercise she sweat ill humors out.
Sweet
That which is sweet to the taste; - used chiefly in the plural.
Sweat
To unite by heating, after the application of soldier.
Sweet
That which is sweet or pleasant in odor; a perfume.
Sweat
To get something advantageous, as money, property, or labor from (any one), by exaction or oppression; as, to sweat a spendthrift; to sweat laborers.
The only use of it [money] which is interdicted is to put it in circulation again after having diminished its weight by "sweating", or otherwise, because the quantity of metal contains is no longer consistent with its impression.
Sweet
That which is pleasing or grateful to the mind; as, the sweets of domestic life.
A little bitter mingled in our cup leaves no relish of the sweet.
Sweat
The fluid which is excreted from the skin of an animal; the fluid secreted by the sudoriferous glands; a transparent, colorless, acid liquid with a peculiar odor, containing some fatty acids and mineral matter; perspiration. See Perspiration.
In the sweat of thy face shalt thou eat bread.
Sweet
One who is dear to another; a darling; - a term of endearment.
Sweat
The act of sweating; or the state of one who sweats; hence, labor; toil; drudgery.
Sweet
Sweetly.
Sweat
Moisture issuing from any substance; as, the sweat of hay or grain in a mow or stack.
Sweet
To sweeten.
Sweat
The sweating sickness.
Sweet
English phonetician; one of the founders of modern phonetics (1845-1912)
Sweat
A short run by a race horse in exercise.
Sweet
A dish served as the last course of a meal
Sweat
Salty fluid secreted by sweat glands;
Sweat poured off his brow
Sweet
A food rich in sugar
Sweat
Agitation resulting from active worry;
Don't get in a stew
He's in a sweat about exams
Sweet
The taste experience when sugar dissolves in the mouth
Sweat
Condensation of moisture on a cold surface;
The cold glasses were streaked with sweat
Sweet
The property of containing sugar
Sweat
Use of physical or mental energy; hard work;
He got an A for effort
They managed only with great exertion
Sweet
Having a pleasant taste (as of sugar)
Sweat
Excrete perspiration through the pores in the skin;
Exercise makes one sweat
Sweet
Having a sweet nature befitting an angel or cherub;
An angelic smile
A cherubic face
Looking so seraphic when he slept
A sweet disposition
Sweat
The moisture excreted by the sweat glands of the skin.
After his run, he was covered in sweat.
Sweet
Pleasing to the ear;
The dulcet tones of the cello
Sweat
To work hard or exert oneself.
He sweated over his final exams.
Sweet
One of the four basic taste sensations; very pleasant; like the taste of sugar or honey
Sweet
Pleasing to the senses;
The sweet song of the lark
The sweet face of a child
Sweet
Pleasing to the mind or feeling;
Sweet revenge
Sweet
Having a natural fragrance;
Odoriferous spices
The odorous air of the orchard
The perfumed air of June
Scented flowers
Sweet
(used of wines) having a sweet taste
Sweet
Not soured or preserved;
Sweet milk
Sweet
With sweetening added
Sweet
Not having a salty taste;
Sweet water
Sweet
In an affectionate or loving manner (`sweet' is sometimes a poetic or informal variant of `sweetly');
Susan Hayward plays the wife sharply and sweetly
How sweet the moonlight sleeps upon this bank
Talking sweet to each other
Sweet
Having a sugary taste.
The cake was very sweet and delicious.
Sweet
Music that is smooth or soft in style or effect.
The sweet melody of the violin lulled me to sleep.
Sweet
British term for candy or confectionery.
I bought some sweets from the store.
Common Curiosities
Can "Sweet" and "Sweat" be used figuratively?
Yes, both words have figurative meanings, like "sweet dreams" or "breaking a sweat."
Is "Sweat" only produced during physical activity?
No, sweat can be produced from heat, stress, or nervousness as well.
How are "Sweet" and "Sweat" primarily used in a sentence?
"Sweet" is primarily an adjective, and "Sweat" is primarily a noun.
Can "Sweet" describe sounds?
Yes, a harmonious or soft sound can be described as "sweet."
What does it mean when someone says "Don't sweat it"?
"Don't sweat it" means "Don't worry about it."
Are there synonyms for "Sweat"?
Yes, synonyms include perspiration and perspire.
Is "Sweet" always related to taste?
No, "Sweet" can describe anything pleasant, like a sound or personality, not just taste.
Can "Sweet" be used as a noun?
Yes, especially in British English, "Sweet" can refer to candy.
Are there idioms involving the word "Sweet"?
Yes, such as "Home sweet home" or "Short but sweet."
Can "Sweat" refer to hard work?
Yes, if someone says they "sweated over" something, it means they worked hard on it.
How are "Sweet" and "Sweat" pronounced?
"Sweet" rhymes with "meet," and "Sweat" rhymes with "bet."
Are there synonyms for "Sweet"?
Yes, synonyms include sugary, saccharine, and honeyed.
Can "Sweat" be used as a verb?
Yes, "to sweat" means to perspire or to worry about something.
Is "Sweat" always visible?
No, sometimes a person might sweat minimally or internally without it being noticeable.
Are "Sweet" and "Sweat" homophones?
No, they have distinct pronunciations and meanings.
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Written 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.
