Gag vs. Puke — What's the Difference?
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By Tayyaba Rehman — Published on October 11, 2023
Gag" refers to the reflexive act of retching due to discomfort in the throat; "puke" is the informal term for vomiting.
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Difference Between Gag and Puke
Table of Contents
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Key Differences
"Gag" is often perceived as a preliminary stage to "puke." It is a bodily reflex that might not necessarily lead to vomiting but indicates a possibility of it occurring, signaling discomfort or a reaction to a distasteful stimulus. On the other hand, "puke" is a definitive act of vomiting, occurring as a result of numerous triggers like gastrointestinal distress, overconsumption of food or alcohol, or exposure to repulsive sights or smells, signifying the body’s need to expel harmful or disagreeable substances.
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Tayyaba Rehman
Oct 11, 2023
Gag" and "puke" are related in the aspect of bodily reactions but differ in their stages and intensity. "Gag" typically refers to the involuntary, reflexive act of opening the mouth and retching, usually resulting from discomfort or irritation in the throat or a distasteful experience. It represents the body’s reflex to expel harmful substances, even without actual expulsion of stomach contents. In contrast, "puke" is a colloquial term for vomiting, where one actually expels the contents of the stomach through the mouth. It is more intense and definitive than gagging, representing a body’s more advanced reaction to rid itself of harmful or disagreeable substances.
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Tayyaba Rehman
Oct 11, 2023
In terms of connotations, "gag" often conveys a sense of discomfort or repulsion but does not inherently imply the act of expelling stomach contents. It can occur due to various stimuli like unpleasant tastes, smells, sights, or thoughts, indicating a degree of revulsion or discomfort. "Puke," conversely, has stronger, more graphic connotations, explicitly implying the act of vomiting and is often associated with feelings of sickness, disgust, or overindulgence, indicating a more intense level of bodily distress.
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Tayyaba Rehman
Oct 11, 2023
While "gag" primarily emphasizes the reflexive act of retching or a contraction of the throat muscles, "puke" emphasizes the expulsion of stomach contents. "Gag" represents an initial, less intense reaction, primarily occurring as a reflex to throat irritation or extreme disgust, whereas "puke" represents a subsequent, more intense reaction involving the forceful expulsion of stomach contents due to various reasons, such as illness, intoxication, or disgust.
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Tayyaba Rehman
Oct 11, 2023
Comparison Chart
Definition
Involuntary retching due to throat discomfort or disgust
Informal term for the act of vomiting
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Tayyaba Rehman
Oct 11, 2023
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Intensity
Less intense, preliminary reflex
More intense, actual expulsion of stomach contents
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Tayyaba Rehman
Oct 11, 2023
Connotations
Discomfort or repulsion without expulsion
Graphic, implies sickness, disgust, or overindulgence
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Tayyaba Rehman
Oct 11, 2023
Definitions
Gag
Gag represents a preliminary reflex that may lead to vomiting.
The excessive smoke caused him to gag.
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Tayyaba Rehman
Sep 25, 2023
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Puke
Puke represents a forceful expulsion of stomach contents usually due to illness or disgust.
The roller coaster ride made her puke.
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Tayyaba Rehman
Sep 25, 2023
Gag
Gag conveys a sense of discomfort or repulsion due to various stimuli.
The sight of blood makes me gag.
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Tayyaba Rehman
Sep 25, 2023
Puke
Puke denotes a more intense and definitive act than gagging, involving actual expulsion.
He felt so sick that he had to puke.
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Tayyaba Rehman
Sep 25, 2023
Gag
A gag is usually an item or device designed to prevent speech, often as a restraint device to stop the subject from calling for help and keep its wearer silent. This is usually done by blocking the mouth, partially or completely, or attempting to prevent the tongue, lips, or jaw from moving in the normal patterns of speech.
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Tayyaba Rehman
Jan 30, 2023
Puke
Puke is associated with feelings of sickness, disgust, or overindulgence.
The disturbing scene made him puke.
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Tayyaba Rehman
Sep 25, 2023
Gag
A piece of cloth put in or over a person's mouth to prevent them from speaking
They tied him up and put a gag in his mouth
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Tayyaba Rehman
Jan 30, 2023
Puke
Puke is an informal term for the act of expelling the contents of the stomach through the mouth.
He had to puke after eating spoiled seafood.
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Tayyaba Rehman
Sep 25, 2023
Gag
A device for keeping the patient's mouth open during a dental or surgical operation.
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Tayyaba Rehman
Jan 30, 2023
Puke
Puke implies a bodily reaction to rid itself of harmful or disagreeable substances.
Too much alcohol makes him puke.
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Tayyaba Rehman
Sep 25, 2023
Gag
A joke or an amusing story, especially one forming part of a comedian's act or in a film
Films that goad audiences into laughing at the most tasteless of gags
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Tayyaba Rehman
Jan 30, 2023
Gag
Be very eager to have or do (something)
We'll be sitting in front of the TV at five to seven next Saturday evening, gagging for the next instalment
I'm absolutely gagging for a pint
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Tayyaba Rehman
Jan 30, 2023
Gag
Something forced into or put over the mouth to prevent speaking or crying out.
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Tayyaba Rehman
Jan 30, 2023
Gag
To stop or restrain from exercising free speech
Censorship laws aimed at gagging the press.
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Tayyaba Rehman
Jan 30, 2023
Puke
To sell securities or investments at a loss, often under duress or pressure, in order to satisfy liquidity or margin requirements, or out of a desire to exit a deteriorating market.
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Tayyaba Rehman
Jan 30, 2023
Puke
To eject the contests of the stomach; to vomit; to spew.
The infantMewling and puking in the nurse's arms.
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Tayyaba Rehman
Jan 30, 2023
Gag
To experience a regurgitative spasm in the throat, as from revulsion to a food or smell or in reflexive response to an introduced object.
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Tayyaba Rehman
Jan 30, 2023
Gag
A device to restrain speech, such as a rag in the mouth secured with tape or a rubber ball threaded onto a cord or strap.
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Tayyaba Rehman
Jan 30, 2023
Puke
A person who is deemed to be despicable or contemptible;
Only a rotter would do that
Kill the rat
Throw the bum out
You cowardly little pukes!
The British call a contemptible person a `git'
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Tayyaba Rehman
Jan 30, 2023
Puke
Eject the contents of the stomach through the mouth;
After drinking too much, the students vomited
He purged continuously
The patient regurgitated the food we gave him last night
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Tayyaba Rehman
Jan 30, 2023
Gag
(intransitive) To experience the vomiting reflex.
He gagged when he saw the open wound.
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Tayyaba Rehman
Jan 30, 2023
Gag
(transitive) To restrain someone's speech by blocking his or her mouth.
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Tayyaba Rehman
Jan 30, 2023
Gag
To restrain someone's speech without using physical means.
When the financial irregularities were discovered, the CEO gagged everyone in the accounting department.
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Tayyaba Rehman
Jan 30, 2023
Gag
To stop the mouth of, by thrusting sometimes in, so as to hinder speaking; hence, to silence by authority or by violence; not to allow freedom of speech to.
The time was not yet come when eloquence was to be gagged, and reason to be hood winked.
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Jan 30, 2023
Gag
To pry or hold open by means of a gag.
Mouths gagged to such a wideness.
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Tayyaba Rehman
Jan 30, 2023
Gag
A mouthful that makes one retch; a choking bit; as, a gag of mutton fat.
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Tayyaba Rehman
Jan 30, 2023
Gag
A speech or phrase interpolated offhand by an actor on the stage in his part as written, usually consisting of some seasonable or local allusion.
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Jan 30, 2023
Gag
A humorous anecdote or remark intended to provoke laughter;
He told a very funny joke
He knows a million gags
Thanks for the laugh
He laughed unpleasantly at hisown jest
Even a schoolboy's jape is supposed to have some ascertainable point
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Tayyaba Rehman
Jan 30, 2023
Gag
Tie a gag around someone's mouth in order to silence them;
The burglars gagged the home owner and tied him to a chair
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Tayyaba Rehman
Jan 30, 2023
Gag
Struggle for breath; have insufficient oxygen intake;
He swallowed a fishbone and gagged
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Tayyaba Rehman
Jan 30, 2023
Gag
Gag refers to the involuntary retching due to discomfort or irritation in the throat.
The pungent odor made him gag.
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Tayyaba Rehman
Sep 25, 2023
Gag
Gag implies a reflexive act often induced by distasteful experiences.
He gagged at the sight of the spoiled food.
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Tayyaba Rehman
Sep 25, 2023
Gag
Gag denotes a bodily reaction signaling discomfort or revulsion.
She gagged when she tried to swallow the bitter medicine.
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Tayyaba Rehman
Sep 25, 2023
FAQs
How is "puke" different from "gag"?
"Puke" is a colloquial term for vomiting, indicating the actual expulsion of stomach contents, which is more intense and definitive than "gag."
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Tayyaba Rehman
Oct 11, 2023
Can "gag" emphasize the reflexive act of retching?
Yes, "gag" primarily emphasizes the reflexive act of retching or contraction of the throat muscles.
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Tayyaba Rehman
Oct 11, 2023
Is "puke" a definitive act of vomiting?
Yes, "puke" signifies a definitive act of vomiting, occurring due to various triggers and indicating the body’s need to expel harmful substances.
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Tayyaba Rehman
Oct 11, 2023
What does "gag" typically refer to?
"Gag" typically refers to the involuntary, reflexive act of retching, usually resulting from discomfort or irritation in the throat.
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Tayyaba Rehman
Oct 11, 2023
Can "gag" occur due to various stimuli?
Yes, "gag" can occur due to various stimuli like unpleasant tastes, smells, sights, or thoughts, indicating discomfort or revulsion.
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Tayyaba Rehman
Oct 11, 2023
Can "gag" indicate a possibility of vomiting occurring?
Yes, "gag" can indicate a possibility of vomiting occurring, signaling discomfort or a reaction to a distasteful stimulus.
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Tayyaba Rehman
Oct 11, 2023
Can "gag" result from extreme disgust?
Absolutely, "gag" can occur as a reflex to extreme disgust or distasteful experiences, representing the body’s reflex to expel harmful substances.
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Tayyaba Rehman
Oct 11, 2023
Is "puke" associated with feelings of sickness or overindulgence?
Absolutely, "puke" is often associated with feelings of sickness, disgust, or overindulgence, representing the body’s reaction to harmful or disagreeable substances.
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Tayyaba Rehman
Oct 11, 2023
Is "gag" perceived as a preliminary stage to "puke"?
Yes, "gag" is often perceived as a preliminary stage to "puke," representing an initial, less intense reaction that might lead to vomiting.
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Tayyaba Rehman
Oct 11, 2023
Does "puke" explicitly imply the act of vomiting?
Yes, "puke" has stronger, more graphic connotations, explicitly implying the act of vomiting.
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Tayyaba Rehman
Oct 11, 2023
Does "puke" emphasize the expulsion of stomach contents?
Indeed, "puke" emphasizes the expulsion of stomach contents, reflecting a more advanced reaction to rid the body of harmful substances.
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Tayyaba Rehman
Oct 11, 2023
Author Spotlight
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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.