What context can I use each word in?
Learn when and how to use these words with these examples!
impostume
Example
The doctor drained the impostume to relieve the pressure. [impostume: noun]
Example
She had an impostume on her leg that needed to be treated with antibiotics. [impostume: adjective]
boil
Example
He had a boil on his neck that needed to be lanced. [boil: noun]
Example
The doctor prescribed antibiotics to treat the infected boil. [boil: adjective]
Good things to know
Which word is more common?
Boil is more commonly used than impostume in everyday language. Boil is a versatile term that covers a wide range of contexts, while impostume is less common and more formal.
What’s the difference in the tone of formality between impostume and boil?
While impostume is typically associated with a formal and medical tone, boil is more informal and can be employed in various formality levels, allowing it to be used in both formal and informal contexts.