Cure vs That wound will never fully heal

When to use each in English, with meaning, register, and examples.

Cure

Top 1,000 (very common)B2verb

That wound will never fully heal

Top 5,000 (fairly common)
Most common: Cure
 CureThat wound will never fully heal
Pronunciation🇬🇧 /["/kjʊə(r)/","/kjʊəz/","/kjʊəd/","/ˈkjʊərɪŋ/"]/🇺🇸 /["/kjʊr/","/kjʊrz/","/kjʊrd/","/ˈkjʊrɪŋ/"]/🇬🇧 //ðæt waʊnd wɪl ˈnɛvə ˈfʊli hiːl//🇺🇸 //ðæt waʊnd wɪl ˈnɛvər ˈfʊli hil//
MeaningTo make someone healthy again.The injury won't get better completely.
ExampleIt is possible to cure some diseases with the right treatment.That wound will never fully heal after such a traumatic event.
RegisterNeutralNeutral
How commonTop 1,000 (very common)Top 5,000 (fairly common)
CEFR levelB2-
Part of speechverb
Collocationscompletely, miraculously, of, completely, miraculously, of, completely, miraculously, of, completely, miraculously, ofphysical wound, emotional wound, heal properly, scar tissue, chronic pain
Antonymsworsen, deteriorate-
Common mistakes'Cure' cannot be used with abstract issues like sadness or malaise., Confuse 'cure' with 'heal'; 'heal' is often used for emotional or spiritual contexts., 'Cure' is not always applicable for chronic conditions.Confused with 'wound' and 'wound' (past tense of wind)., Inappropriately used with 'heal' without context (e.g., 'heal' vs 'cure').
Usage notesUse 'cure' in medical contexts when discussing treatments that completely eliminate diseases. Avoid using it for temporary relief; prefer 'treat' instead.Used in conversations about recovery from physical or emotional injuries. Suitable for both formal and informal contexts.

See it in real clips

That wound will never fully heal

Frequently asked questions: Cure vs That wound will never fully heal

What's the difference between Cure and That wound will never fully heal?

Cure: To make someone healthy again. That wound will never fully heal: The injury won't get better completely.

Which is more common: Cure and That wound will never fully heal?

Cure is the most common in everyday English.

Can you show an example of each?

Cure: It is possible to cure some diseases with the right treatment. That wound will never fully heal: That wound will never fully heal after such a traumatic event.

Can I use Cure and That wound will never fully heal interchangeably?

Not always. Cure and That wound will never fully heal are related and overlap in some contexts, but they differ in register, how common they are, and usage, so swapping one for another can change the meaning or tone. Check the differences above before substituting.

Related comparisons