Eminent vs Imminent

What is the difference?

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Eminent (Adjective)

Definition:

“Eminent” means famous, respected, or distinguished within a particular sphere or profession.

Usage:

‘Eminent’ is a word that is often employed to refer to a person or entity that is widely known and/or celebrated within a certain discipline or profession. For instance, “She was a renowned scientist who had made innovative discoveries” means that she was highly regarded and renowned in the scientific fraternity.

Examples:

  • The lecture was given by an eminent professor.
  • Sophia is an eminent scientist in her field.
  • They invited an eminent historian to speak at the conference.

Synonyms:

  • Prominent
  • Renowned
  • Distinguished
  • Celebrated
  • Esteemed

Imminent (Adjective)

Definition:

“Imminent” means about to happen or impending.

Usage:

“Imminent” is used to describe something that is likely to occur very soon. For example, “The storm is imminent” means the storm is expected to happen shortly.

Examples:

  • The arrival of the train is imminent.
  • They feared an imminent danger to their village.
  • We could feel the imminent change in the air.

Synonyms:

  • Impending
  • Approaching
  • Forthcoming
  • Near
  • Immediate

Key Differences:

In general, the word ‘eminent’ and the word ‘imminent’ are quite different in terms of meaning and application.

“Eminent” is an adjective used when referring to an individual who is notable in some specific sphere of activity and is marked by superiority.

Similarly, “imminent” is also an adjective that means that something is approaching soon and points to its relevance.

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Confusing Words