What context can I use each word in?
Learn when and how to use these words with these examples!
imbody
Example
The artist sought to imbody the essence of love in his sculpture. [imbody: verb]
Example
The team captain imbodying the spirit of determination led the team to victory. [imbodying: present participle]
incarnate
Example
The god Vishnu was incarnated as the avatar Rama. [incarnated: past participle]
Example
The CEO was the very incarnation of success and ambition. [incarnation: noun]
Good things to know
Which word is more common?
Imbody is less common than incarnate in everyday language. Incarnate is often used in religious or spiritual contexts, while imbody is more commonly used in literature and artistic contexts.
What’s the difference in the tone of formality between imbody and incarnate?
Both imbody and incarnate have formal connotations due to their association with embodiment and representation. However, incarnate may be considered more formal due to its religious connotation.