What context can I use each word in?
Learn when and how to use these words with these examples!
acclivity
Example
The hikers struggled to climb the acclivity in the mountainous terrain. [acclivity: noun]
Example
The road had a sharp acclivity that made it difficult for the car to ascend. [acclivity: adjective]
incline
Example
The path had a gentle incline that made it easy to walk up. [incline: noun]
Example
She had to incline her head to see the top of the building. [incline: verb]
Good things to know
Which word is more common?
Incline is more commonly used than acclivity in everyday language. Incline is versatile and covers a wide range of contexts, while acclivity is less common and typically used in more formal or technical writing.
What’s the difference in the tone of formality between acclivity and incline?
Acclivity is generally considered more formal than incline, which can be used in both formal and informal contexts.