Definitions
- Referring to an action that prevents something from happening. - Talking about an event that makes something impossible or unlikely. - Describing a situation where something is ruled out or excluded.
- Referring to an action that slows down or obstructs progress. - Talking about a situation where something is made more difficult or challenging. - Describing a condition where something is hindered or blocked.
List of Similarities
- 1Both words describe actions that prevent or slow down something from happening.
- 2Both words can be used to describe physical or non-physical obstacles.
- 3Both words can be used in formal and informal contexts.
What is the difference?
- 1Meaning: Preclude means to make something impossible or rule it out, while impede means to slow down or obstruct progress.
- 2Intention: Preclude is often used to describe an intentional action, while impede can be used to describe both intentional and unintentional actions.
- 3Severity: Preclude implies a stronger sense of prevention or exclusion than impede.
- 4Usage: Preclude is often used in legal or academic contexts, while impede is more commonly used in everyday language.
Remember this!
Preclude and impede are synonyms that describe actions that prevent or slow down something from happening. However, preclude is more focused on making something impossible or ruling it out, while impede is more focused on slowing down or obstructing progress. Additionally, preclude is often used in formal or legal contexts, while impede is more commonly used in everyday language.
