Is there any significant difference between 駆け回る and 駆け巡る? I already knew the word , which means "to run about", "to bustle about". Well, I recently came across the term that seems to mean the same. Are both words safely interchangeable? Is there any nuance or difference between them?

Both mean mostly the same but are not very interchangeable.

A general distinction would be

* is casual, means literally something is running about. Sometimes it has negative connotation of "in vain".
* is often used for spreading of news. It can take animate subjects, but sounds a bit strained or affected. It usually means "purposefully going to many places".



**Examples** :

* The child ran about in a supermarket.



Using here is odd. It sounds like the child is doing so for a specific purpose.

* The news spread all over the world.



Using is much less idiomatic.

* I travelled all around the world.



This is more likely to be used than , which sounds like a sentence in an autobiography.

* I went everywhere (asking for money) but was unable to collect money.



Using is not possible.