Mend vs That wound will never fully heal

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

Mend

Top 2,000 (common)

That wound will never fully heal

Top 5,000 (fairly common)

Most common: Mend

	Mend	That wound will never fully heal
Pronunciation	🇬🇧 //mɛnd// 🇺🇸 //mɛnd//	🇬🇧 //ðæt waʊnd wɪl ˈnɛvə ˈfʊli hiːl// 🇺🇸 //ðæt waʊnd wɪl ˈnɛvər ˈfʊli hil//
Meaning	To fix something that is broken.	The injury won't get better completely.
Example	She will mend the tear in her dress.	That wound will never fully heal after such a traumatic event.
Register	Neutral	Neutral
How common	Top 2,000 (common)	Top 5,000 (fairly common)
Collocations	mend a relationship, mend a tear, mend a fence, mend broken hearts, mend clothes	physical wound, emotional wound, heal properly, scar tissue, chronic pain
Antonyms	break, damage, ruin	-
Common mistakes	Confusing with 'amend', which means to improve text or legislation., Using 'mend' without an object, e.g., saying 'I mend.' instead of 'I mend clothes.', Incorrectly assuming 'mend' only applies to physical objects.	Confused with 'wound' and 'wound' (past tense of wind)., Inappropriately used with 'heal' without context (e.g., 'heal' vs 'cure').
Usage notes	Used in everyday conversation; appropriate for casual and formal contexts. Avoid using with very technical objects.	Used in conversations about recovery from physical or emotional injuries. Suitable for both formal and informal contexts.

See it in real clips

The Lord Of The Rings › The Fellowship Of The Ring

By the skills of Lord Elrond, you're beginning to mend.

Mend

The Lord Of The Rings › The Fellowship Of The Ring

That wound will never fully heal. He will carry it the rest of his life.

That wound will never fully heal

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

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

Mend: To fix something that is broken. That wound will never fully heal: The injury won't get better completely.

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

Mend is the most common in everyday English.

Can you show an example of each?

Mend: She will mend the tear in her dress. That wound will never fully heal: That wound will never fully heal after such a traumatic event.

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

Not always. Mend 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.