Viral and virile may sound alike, but they refer to completely different things. Viral relates to a virus or rapid spread, while virile describes strength and manliness.

Viral

Definition:

Viral refers to anything related to a virus or something that spreads quickly (like information or media online).

Examples of use:

The doctor confirmed that the illness was caused by a viral infection.

The video went viral on social media, garnering millions of views.

Some community-acquired pneumonias are viral in origin.

Virile

Definition:

Virile describes someone as having qualities traditionally associated with manliness, such as strength, energy, and robustness.

Examples of use:

The virile athletes work out four hours every day to maintain their physique.

His virile charm and confidence attracted everyone’s attention.

The movie portrayed him as a virile warrior, strong and fearless.


In short, viral pertains to viruses or rapid spread, and virile means having masculine strength or vitality. Understanding the difference helps avoid confusion between these similar-sounding words.

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