What context can I use each word in?
Learn when and how to use these words with these examples!
permeated
Example
The smell of fresh bread permeated the entire house. [permeated: verb]
Example
The culture of the country had permeated every aspect of her life. [permeated: past participle]
penetrate
Example
The bullet penetrated the wall and hit the target. [penetrated: verb]
Example
The spy was able to penetrate the enemy's headquarters undetected. [penetrate: verb]
Example
It took a while for the new information to penetrate his mind. [penetrate: verb]
Good things to know
Which word is more common?
Penetrate is more commonly used than permeated in everyday language. Penetrate is versatile and covers a wide range of contexts, while permeated is less common and refers to a specific type of spreading or filling.
What’s the difference in the tone of formality between permeated and penetrate?
Both permeated and penetrate are formal words that are appropriate for use in academic or professional writing. However, penetrate may have a slightly negative connotation in certain contexts, while permeated is generally neutral or positive.
