What context can I use each word in?
Learn when and how to use these words with these examples!
impregnate
Example
The male fish impregnated the female fish with his sperm. [impregnated: past tense]
Example
The marinade will impregnate the meat with flavor. [impregnate: verb]
permeate
Example
The smell of fresh bread permeated the bakery. [permeated: past tense]
Example
The music permeated every corner of the room. [permeate: verb]
Good things to know
Which word is more common?
Permeate is more commonly used than impregnate in everyday language. Permeate is versatile and covers a wide range of contexts, while impregnate is less common and has a more specific usage.
What’s the difference in the tone of formality between impregnate and permeate?
Both impregnate and permeate can be used in formal and informal contexts, but impregnate may have a more technical or scientific connotation, making it more appropriate for formal or academic writing.
