Crap vs Shit: What’s the Difference?
The difference at a glance
Crap is a milder, socially acceptable term for excrement or poor quality. Shit is significantly more offensive and should be avoided in professional or polite company.
Example sentences are illustrative learning examples, not verified quotations.
What does Crap mean?
noun / adjective / exclamation · /kræp/
Excrement; by extension, something of very poor quality, a lie, or worthless matter. Also used as an exclamation of frustration. 'Crap' is the all-purpose dismissal — the word that says this thing fails at its basic function.
Explore CrapCrap in a sentence
That's a load of crap and you know it.
The film was crap, but the acting saved it.
What does Shit mean?
noun / exclamation / adjective · /ʃɪt/
One of the most versatile words in English — functioning as noun (excrement), adjective (poor quality), verb (to defecate), and exclamation (surprise or frustration). The academic study of expletives considers 'shit' among the most grammatically flexible words in the language.
Explore ShitShit in a sentence
The most interesting thing about 'shit' is its grammatical flexibility — it can be any part of speech.
Oh shit — that wasn't supposed to happen.
Frequently asked questions
What is the difference between Crap and Shit?
Crap is a milder, socially acceptable term for excrement or poor quality. Shit is significantly more offensive and should be avoided in professional or polite company.
What does Crap mean?
Excrement; by extension, something of very poor quality, a lie, or worthless matter. Also used as an exclamation of frustration. 'Crap' is the all-purpose dismissal — the word that says this thing fails at its basic function.
What does Shit mean?
One of the most versatile words in English — functioning as noun (excrement), adjective (poor quality), verb (to defecate), and exclamation (surprise or frustration). The academic study of expletives considers 'shit' among the most grammatically flexible words in the language.