I'm looking for the key differences between combination and amalgamation. The differences between their verb forms (combine and amalgamate) is just as acceptable to me.
Combination: the act or an instance of combining; the process of being combined; (a more specific sub-definition:) the state of being joined or united in such a way
Amalgamation: the action, process, or result of combining or uniting
These two, denotatively at least, seem very similar; are there any glaring differences that I'm unaware of?
I'm looking for something that captures that unity and harmony of the combination's/amalgamation's end result, if that helps.
Best Answer
'Amalgam' (avoid amalgamation unless you are actually referring to a process) is precisely the wrong word to use if you're trying to emphasize unity and harmony of the result. 'Combination' is rather neutral. 'Union' or 'blend' would be better.