formulate vs create mentally

formulate and create mentally both are verbs.

Word	Noun	Adjective	Verb	Adverb
formulate	No	No	Yes	No
create mentally	No	No	Yes	No

As verbs, create mentally is a hypernym of formulate; that is, create mentally is a word with a broader meaning than formulate:

formulate: come up with (an idea, plan, explanation, theory, or principle) after a mental effort
create mentally: create mentally and abstractly rather than with one's hands

Other hypernyms of formulate include create by mental act.

formulate (verb)	create mentally (verb)
put into words or an expression	create mentally and abstractly rather than with one's hands
elaborate, as of theories and hypotheses
come up with (an idea, plan, explanation, theory, or principle) after a mental effort
prepare according to a formula