Spoken English (Confusing Words With Word Meanings – 1 to 6)

Confusing Words With Word Meanings – 1

1.Amoral -lacking a moral sense; unconcerned with the rightness or wrongness of something.

Synonyms -unprincipled, without standards, without morals etc.

Immoral– not conforming to accepted standards of morality.

Synonyms -unethical, bad, morally wrong, wrongful, wicked, evil, unprincipled, unscrupulous, dishonest etc.

2. Compose– (of elements) constitute or make up (a whole, or a specified part of it).

Synonyms – make up, constitute, form etc.

Comprise– consist of; be made up of.

Synonyms – consist of, be made up of, contain, take in, embrace, encompass etc.

3. Defy -openly resist or refuse to obey.

Synonyms – disobey, refuse to obey, go against, rebel against, flout, fly in the face of, thumb one’s nose at, disregard, ignore etc.

Deify –worship or regard as a god.

Synonyms – worship, revere, venerate, reverence etc.

4. Ordinance – an authoritative order.

Synonyms – edict, decree, law, injunction, fiat, command, order, rule, ruling, dictum, dictate, directive, mandate, enactment, statute etc.

Ordnance -a branch of government service dealing especially with military stores and materials.

Synonyms– arms, military supplies etc.

5. Dual – consisting of two parts, elements, or aspects.

Synonyms – double, twofold, binary etc.

Duel – a prearranged contest with deadly weapons between two people in order to settle a point of honors.

Synonyms – affair of honor, single combat etc.

6. Deface -spoil the surface or appearance of (something), for example by drawing or writing on it.

Synonyms – vandalize, disfigure, mar, spoil, ruin, deform, sully, tarnish, damage etc.

Efface -erase (a mark) from a surface.

Synonym– wipe out

7. Defuse – make (a situation) less tense or dangerous.

Synonyms – reduce, lessen, diminish, lighten, relieve, ease, alleviate, allay, moderate, mitigate etc.

Diffuse – spread out over a large area; not concentrated.

Synonyms -spread out, diffused, scattered, dispersed, not concentrated etc.

8. Casual -relaxed and unconcerned.

Synonyms -relaxed, friendly, natural, informal, unceremonious, unpretentious, easy-going, free and easy, uninhibited, open etc.

Causal -relating to or acting as a cause.

9. Vale -a valley (used in place names or as a poetic term).

Veil – a piece of fine material worn by women to protect or conceal the face.

10. Resource -a stock or supply of money, materials, staff, and other assets that can be drawn on by a person or organization in order to function effectively.

Synonyms – assets, funds, wealth, money, riches, capital, deep pockets etc.

Recourse – a source of help in a difficult situation.

Synonyms – option, possibility, alternative, possible course of action, resort, way out, hope, remedy, choice, expedient etc

Confusing Words With Word Meanings – 2

Adopt – legally take (another’s child) and bring it up as one’s own.
Usage – “there are many people eager to adopt a baby”

Adept – very skilled or proficient at something.
Usage – “she is adept at cutting through red tape”

Adapt – make (something) suitable for a new use or purpose; modify.
Usage -“hospitals have had to be adapted for modern medical practice”

Allusion – an expression designed to call something to mind without mentioning it explicitly; an indirect or passing reference
Usage – “This place is like a Garden of Eden.” – This is a biblical allusion to the “garden of God” in the Book of Genesis.

Illusion – a deceptive appearance or impression.
Usage – “the illusion of family togetherness”

Beside – at the side of; next to.
Usage – “he sat beside me in the front seat”

Besides – in addition to; apart from.
Usage – “I have no other family besides my parents”

Credible – able to be believed; convincing.
Usage -“few people found his story credible”

Creditable -(of a performance, effort, or action) deserving public acknowledgement and praise but not necessarily outstanding or successful.
Usage – “a very creditable 2–4 defeat”

Elicit – evoke or draw out (a reaction, answer, or fact) from someone.
Usage -“I tried to elicit a smile from Joanna”

Illicit – forbidden by law, rules, or custom.
Usage -“illicit drugs”

Fain – gladly
Usage – “I am weary and would fain get a little rest”

Feign – pretend to be affected by (a feeling, state, or injury).
Usage – “she feigned nervousness”

Hoard – a stock or store of money or valued objects, typically one that is secret or carefully guarded.
Usage – “he came back to rescue his little hoard of gold”

Horde – a large group of people.
Usage – “How can you deal with this?” she asked, staring at the horde of women.

Industrial – relating to or characterized by industry.
Usage – “industrial waste”

Industrious – diligent and hard-working.
Usage – “an industrious people striving to make their country prosperous”

Loath – reluctant; unwilling.
Usage – “I was loath to leave”

Loathe – feel intense dislike or disgust for.
Usage – “she loathed him on sight”

Proceed – move forward.
Usage -“from the High Street, proceed over Magdalen Bridge”

Precede – come before (something) in time.
Usage – “a gun battle had preceded the explosions”

Confusing Words With Word Meanings – 3

Broach– to raise a subject for discussion

Synonyms -interject, interpose, introduce, mention, moot, move, offer, open up, propose, raise subject, speak of

Brooch– a piece of jewellery

Synonyms -bar pin, breastpin, clip, cluster, jewelry

Complacent -smug and self-satisfied

Synonyms-egoistic, egotistic, gratified, happy, obsequious, pleased, satisfied, self-assured, self-contented, self-pleased

Complaisant -willing to please

Synonyms -easy-going, friendly, generous, good-humored, good-natured, good-tempered, indulgent, lenient, mild, obliging, polite

Discreet-careful not to attract attention

Synonyms -careful, chary,circumspect,civil,conservative,considerate,controlled,diplomatic,discerning, discriminating,gingerly,guarded, having foresight

Discrete-separate and distinct

Synonyms -different,disconnected, discontinuous,distinct,diverse,separate,several, unattached

Titillate-to arouse interest

Synonyms- entertain, grab, grapple, hook, interest, palpate, provoke, switch on, tantalize, tease, thrill, tickle

Titivate-to make more attractive

Synonyms -clothe, deck out, embellish, fit out, fix up, gussy up, improve, overdress, preen, prettify, primp, prink, slick, smarten, spiff up.

Altar-a sacred table in a church

Synonyms-chantry, font, reredos, retable, shrine, tabernacle

Alter-to change

Synonyms -change, convert, cook, correct mid-course, develop, dial back, diversify, doctor, fine tune, make different, metamorphose, modify, mutate

Exercise-physical activity; to do physical activity

Synonyms -activity, calisthenics, constitutional, daily dozen,discipline,drill, drilling,examination, exercising,exertion, gym,labor,lesson,movement

Exorcise-to drive out an evil spirit

Synonyms -cast out,dismiss, drive out,expel,purge,purify,remove

Grisly-gruesome, revolting

Synonyms-blood-stained,bloody,disgusting,dreadful,eerie, frightful,ghastly,grim, grody,gross,gruesome

Grizzly-a type of bear

Synonyms -gray,leaden, silvertip, white-haired

Prescribe-to authorize use of medicine; to order authoritatively

Synonyms -command, decide, decree, define, designate, determine, dictate, direct, enjoin, establish, fix, guide, impose, lay down, ordain, order, pick out

Proscribe-to officially forbid something

Synonyms -boycott, censure, damn, denounce, deport, doom, embargo, excommunicate, exile, expatriate, expel, forbid, interdict, ostracize, outlaw

Sceptic-a person inclined to doubt

Synonyms -denouncer, dissenter, dissident, heretic, image-breaker, non-conformist, nonbeliever, questioner, radical, rebel, revolutionist, ruiner

Septic-infected with bacteria

Synonyms -corrupt, corruptive, dangerous, deadly, deleterious, destructive, detrimental, evil, fatal, hurtful, infective, lethal, malicious, malignant

Tortuous-full of twists; complex

Synonyms -circuitous, convoluted, crooked, curved, flexuous, indirect, involute, labyrinthine, mazy, meandering, meandrous, roundabout, serpentine

Torturous-full of pain or suffering

Synonyms -bothersome, distressing, excruciating, harrowing, harrying, plaguing, punishing, troubling

 

Confusing Words With Word Meanings – 4

Adverse:Hostile, unfavorable

Usage – The adverse weather conditions forced them to turn back.

Synonyms – conflicting, contrary, detrimental, disadvantageous, down on, down side, have no use for, inimical, injurious, inopportune

Averse:Reluctant, to dislike

Usage – I am not averse to hearing your suggestions.

Synonyms – reluctant, unfriendly, unwilling

Aggravate: To make worse

Usage- Lying to cover up a crime will aggravate the offense.

Synonyms – provoke, get on one’s nerves, get to, give a hard time

Aggregate: To collect together or total

Usage – Charges for a corporate Web site can aggregate into tens of thousands of dollars.

Synonyms – accumulated, added, amassed, assembled, collected, collective, combined, composite, corporate

Ail:To cause trouble or discomfort to

Usage – What ails you?

Synonyms – afflict, annoy, bother, distress, pain, sicken, trouble, upset

Ale:An alcoholic beverage, stronger than beer

Usage – My friend and I will have two pints of ale, bartender.

Allusion:Indirect or casual mention

Usage- No one made any allusion to the scandal while she was in the room.

Synonyms – charge, citation, connotation, denotation, figure of speech, implication, imputation, incidental mention

Illusion:Presentation of a false or misleading idea

Usage – The magician gave the illusion of sawing the woman in half.

Synonyms – false impression, fancy, fantasy, figment of imagination,

Delusion:Mistaken belief while in a confused state of mind

Usage – He was under the delusion that he could fly.

Elusion:Evasion or clever escape

Usage – The embezzlers celebrated their elusion of the police a little too soon.  

Altar: Worship table

Usage – The priest approached the altar.

Alter: Change

Usage – Nothing you can say will alter my plans.

Synonyms – adapt, adjust, amend, change, convert, cook, correct mid-course, develop, dial back, diversify

Any one:Whichever unit

Usage – You can have any one of these prizes.

Anyone:Any person whatever

Usage – Anyone having information about the whereabouts of the suspect, please come forward.

Arc:A curved line

Usage – A rainbow is an arc.

Ark:A large, flat-bottomed boat

Usage – They loaded the grain on the ark and floated it down the river.

Bouillon:Clear soup with a strong flavor

Usage – For the first course I’ll have beef bouillon.

Synonyms – bowl, brew, chowder, concoction, consommé, decoction, dishwater, distillation, elixir, fluid

Bullion:Precious metals, formed into bars

Usage – The coach was loaded with hundreds of bars of gold bullion.

Calendar: Device for showing divisions of time

Usage – Mark this date on your calendar.

Colander:Strainer

Usage – Use the colander to drain the noodles.

Synonyms – bowl-shaped sieve, sifter, utensil

Cue:Signal to begin

Usage – At the meeting, I won’t say anything until I get the cue from you.

Synonyms – catchword, clue, hint, hot lead, idea, in the wind, indication, inkling, innuendo, intimation

Queue:People in line

Usage – We had to wait in the queue to get tickets for the movie.

Confusing Words With Word Meanings – 5

1.Vile – extremely unpleasant.

Synonyms – bad, disagreeable, horrid, horrible, dreadful, abominable, atrocious, offensive, obnoxious, odious, unsavory, repulsive, off-putting, repellent, revolting, repugnant, disgusting, distasteful, loathsome

Wile – devious or cunning stratagems employed in manipulating or persuading someone to do what one wants.

Synonyms – tricks, ruses, ploys, schemes, dodges, gambits, subterfuges, cunning stratagems, artifices, devices

2. Severe – strict or harsh.

Synonyms – harsh, hard, bitter, bitterly cold, cold, bleak, freezing, acute, very bad, serious, grave, critical, dire, drastic, grievous, extreme, dreadful, terrible, awful

Sewer – an underground conduit for carrying off drainage water and waste matter.

3. Sight –the faculty or power of seeing.

Synonyms – eyesight, vision, eyes, faculty of sight, power of sight, ability to see, visual perception, observation

Site – an area of ground on which a town, building, or monument is constructed.

Synonyms – plot, lot, area

Cite – refer to as evidence for or justification of an argument or statement

Synonyms – quote, reproduce

4. Shear – break off or cause to break off, owing to a structural strain.

Sheer –nothing other than

Synonyms – utter, complete, absolute, total, pure, perfect, downright, out-and-out, thorough, thoroughgoing 

5. Naval –relating to a navy or navies.

Navel –a rounded knotty depression in the center of a person’s belly caused by the detachment of the umbilical cord after birth

Synonyms – belly button, tummy button; technical umbilicus 

6. Pore –a minute opening in a surface

Synonyms – opening, orifice, aperture, hole, outlet, inlet, vent

Pour –flow rapidly in a steady stream.

Synonyms – stream, flow, run, gush, cascade, course, spout, jet, spurt, flood, surge, spill, rush, well

7. Fatal –causing death.

Synonyms – deadly, lethal, mortal, causing death, death dealing

Fateful –having far-reaching and often disastrous consequences or implications.

Synonyms – decisive, determining, critical, crucial, pivotal

8. Forego –go before

Forgo –go without

Synonyms – do without, go without, give up, waive, renounce, surrender

9. Ingenious –clever, original, and inventive.

Synonyms – inventive, creative, imaginative, original, innovative, resourceful, enterprising, insightful, inspired

Ingenuous –innocent and unsuspecting.

Synonyms – naive, innocent, simple, childlike, trusting, trustful, over-trusting, unwary, unsuspicious, unguarded

10. Perpetrate – carry out or commit

Synonyms – commit, carry out, perform, execute, do, effect, bring about, be guilty of, be to blame for

Perpetuate –make continue indefinitely.

Synonyms – keep alive, keep going, keep in existence, preserve, conserve, sustain, maintain.

Confusing Words With Word Meanings – 6

1. Luxuriant –rich and profuse in growth

Synonyms – lush, rich, abundant, superabundant, profuse, exuberant, prolific, teeming, flourishing, fecund, thriving
Luxurious –extremely comfortable or elegant
Synonyms – self-indulgent, sensual, pleasure-loving, comfort-seeking, epicurean, hedonistic, sybaritic
2. Suit –a set of outer clothes made of the same fabric and designed to be worn together
Synonyms – outfit, set of clothes, costume
Soot –a deep black powdery or flaky
Suite –a set of rooms designated for one person’s or family’s use or for a particular purpose.
Synonyms – apartment, flat, set of rooms, suite of rooms
3. Wave –move one’s hand to and fro in greeting or as a signal
Synonyms – gesture, gesticulate, signal, sign, beckon, indicate, motion
Waive –refrain from insisting on or using
Synonyms – relinquish, renounce, give up, abandon, reject, surrender, yield, cede, do without
4. Negligent –failing to take proper care over something
Synonyms – careless, failing to take proper care, remiss, neglectful, lax, irresponsible, inattentive, heedless
Negligible –so small or unimportant as to be not worth considering
5. Palate –the roof of the mouth
Palette –a thin board or slab on which an artist lays and mixes colours
Pellet –a small, rounded
Synonyms – little ball, little piece
6. Violence –behaviour involving physical force intended to hurt, damage
Synonyms – brutality, brute force, roughness, ferocity, fierceness, savagery, cruelty, sadism, barbarity
Violation –the action of violating someone or something
Synonyms – contravention, breach, infringement, infraction, breaking, transgression
7. Decent –of an acceptable standard
Synonyms – satisfactory, reasonable, fair, acceptable, adequate, sufficient, sufficiently good, good enough, ample, up to scratch, up to the mark, up to standard
Descent –an act of moving downwards, dropping
Synonyms – going down, coming down
Dissent –the holding or expression of opinions at variance with those commonly or officially held
8. Fortuitous –happening by chance rather than intention
Synonyms – chance, unexpected, unanticipated, unpredictable, unforeseen, unlooked-for, serendipitous
Fortunate –favored by or involving good luck
Synonyms – lucky, favored, blessed, blessed with good luck, in luck
9. Deprecate –express disapproval of
Synonyms – disapprove of, deplore, abhor, find unacceptable, be against, frown on, take a dim view of
Depreciate –diminish in value over a period of time.
Synonyms – decrease in value, lose value, decline in price, drop in price, fall in price, cheapen, devalue
10. Prescribe –advise and authorize the use of (a medicine or treatment) for someone
Synonyms – order, advise, authorize, direct
Proscribe –forbid, especially by law
Synonyms – forbid, prohibit, ban, bar, disallow, rule out, embargo, veto, make illegal, interdict, outlaw, taboo