Definitions
- Referring to something that is about to happen very soon. - Describing a situation that is likely to occur in the immediate future. - Talking about an event or situation that is expected to happen without delay.
- Referring to something that is about to happen soon, but not necessarily immediately. - Describing a situation that is looming or approaching in the near future. - Talking about an event or situation that is expected to happen, but the exact timing is uncertain.
List of Similarities
- 1Both words describe events or situations that are going to happen soon.
- 2Both words convey a sense of urgency or importance.
- 3Both words can be used to describe negative or positive events.
- 4Both words are commonly used in news headlines and reports.
- 5Both words are often used interchangeably.
What is the difference?
- 1Timing: Imminent suggests that something is about to happen immediately, while impending implies that something is going to happen soon, but not necessarily right away.
- 2Certainty: Imminent implies a high degree of certainty that something will happen, while impending suggests that the timing or occurrence of something is less certain.
- 3Intensity: Imminent conveys a stronger sense of urgency or importance than impending.
- 4Usage: Imminent is more commonly used to describe negative events, such as disasters or crises, while impending can be used to describe both positive and negative events.
- 5Formality: Imminent is generally considered more formal than impending.
Remember this!
While both imminent and impending describe events or situations that are going to happen soon, there are some differences between the two words. Imminent suggests that something is about to happen immediately and with a high degree of certainty, while impending implies that something is going to happen soon, but the timing or occurrence is less certain. Additionally, imminent conveys a stronger sense of urgency or importance than impending, and is more commonly used to describe negative events. Impending, on the other hand, can be used to describe both positive and negative events and is generally considered less formal than imminent.
