Confusing Words

	Confusing words
1	Able – capable
	Able = it conveys a general idea
	Ex: I shall be able to help you when I get money.
	Capable = it conveys a particular conception
	Ex: She is capable of teaching English to young children.
2	Abstain – Refrain
	Abstain = it is used with reference to a thing
	Ex: Madhavi abstained from drugs.
	Refrain = it is used with reference to an action
	Ex: We must refrain from criticizing others.
3	Adapt – Adopt
	Adapt = adjust
	Ex: We have to adapt ourselves to changing times.
	Adopt = follow, accept
	Ex: I adopted a novel technique in teaching.
5	Avenge – Revenge
	Avenge = to punish evil doers
	Ex: She avenged the death of her husband.
	Revenge = to punish someone to gratify one’s grudge
	Ex: I took revenge with Raju for his misdeeds.
6	Battle – War – Fight
	Battle = it refers to a single fight
	Ex: The king was defeated in the battle.
	War = a series of fights or battles
	Ex: The first World War took place in 1914.
	Fight = a quarrel between two persons or a limited group.
	Ex: The five brothers had a big fight among themselves.
7	Beautiful – Handsome – Pretty
	Beautiful = refers to a woman
	Ex: Pinky is a beautiful girl
	Handsome = refers to a man
	Ex: Arjun is a handsome boy
	Pretty = refers to persons or things
	Ex: Milan has a pretty face
8	Blunder – Mistake – Error
	Blunder = a serious or gross mistake in relation to action or policy
	Ex: P.V.Narasimha rao committed a political blunder in his foreign policy.
	Mistake = refers to wrong relating to mechanical nature
	Ex: I found several spelling mistakes in his essay.
	Error = pertains to action or policy
	Ex: I garnered a number of common errors from magazines and newspapers.
9	Bring – Fetch
	Bring = to get something for someone
	Ex: Please bring me a book from the library
	Fetch = to go and bring
	Ex: Could you please fetch me a cool drink?
10	Ceiling – Roof
	Ceiling = the inner part of the roof
	Ex: We have to get our ceiling repaired.
	Roof = top covering of the house
	Ex: I saw a bird on the roof of my house
11	Change – Alter
	Change = replace one by another
	Ex: My father changed his clothes
	Alter = to modify
	Ex: He altered his bike
12	Compare – Contrast
	Compare = point out similarities and differences
	Ex: Shakespeare compared the world to a stage.
	Contrast = point out only differences
	Ex: I found a lot of contrast between Padma and Vijaya.
13	Custom – Habit
	Custom = relates to society
	Ex: Shaking hands is a custom of the British.
	Habit = refers to an individual.
	Ex: He has no bad habit
14	Decrease – Diminish
	Decrease = due to unknown causes or reason
	Ex: Most of the Indian forests have decreased recently.
	Diminish = due to known cause
	Ex: My appetite for food diminished by over-eating.
15	Drown – Sink
	Drown = refers to animate things or men
	Ex: She was drowned in the river.
	Sink = refers to inanimate things
	Ex: The shop sank in the sea.
16	Enough – Sufficient
	Enough = refers to the quantity which brings contentment
	Ex: They have enough money to spend.
	Sufficient = refers to the quantity which brings satisfaction
	Ex: He accumulated sufficient wealth for his daughter.
17	Envy – Jealousy
	Envy = a feeling of discomfort at other’s fortune
	Ex: Ramya has developed envy about my success.
	Jealousy = a desire to possess what is not our own or ill-feeling
	Ex: My sister felt a strong jealousy about Padma’s beauty.
18	Excuse – Forgive – Pardon
	Excuse = to forgive for a slight mistake
	Ex: Please excuse me for my coming late
	Forgive = refers to serious mistake
	Ex: I refused to forgive him for insulting me
	Pardon = refers to a great offence
	Ex: The judged pardoned the criminal
19	Expect – Hope
	Expect = refers to a good or bad thing
	Ex: I expected a favourable response from my friend.
	Hope = refers to a good thing
	Ex: I hope to get first class in my P.G.
20	Expenditure – Expenses
	Expenditure = the act of spending Ex: I tried to cut down my expenditure
	Expenses = something that is already spent
	Ex: She was paid all expenses by the company
21	Flock – Herd
	Flock = refers to small animals
	Ex: A flock of sheep is grazing in the field.
	Herd = refers to large animals
	Ex: I saw a herd of cows in the shed.
22	Freedom – Liberty
	Freedom = refers to permanent nature
	Ex: Freedom of speech is one of the fundamental rights of a citizen
	Liberty = refers to temporary or permanent nature
	Ex: I used to take liberties with Pinky because she loved me so much
23	Hasten – Hurry
	Hasten = to act with celerity
	Ex: My brother hastened me to start for the meeting
	Hurry = to do a thing quickly
	Ex: The Prime Minister hurried to the airport
24	Order – Command
	Order = refers to a simple one
	Ex: He ordered me to speak politely
	Command = refers to more emphatic one
	Ex: The principal commanded the boy to shut his mouth
25	Kill – Murder – Assassinate
	Kill = refers to self-defence or unintentional act
	Ex: He killed his wife for dowry
	Murder = killing a person on purpose
	Ex The politicians was murdered by his opponents
	Assassinate = kill somebody on political grounds
	Ex: Rajiv Gandhi was assassinated near Madras
26	Steal – Rob
	Steal = To take away (something) without a person’s knowledge
	Ex: Somebody stole my money
	Rob = to take away by force
	Ex: the thieves robbed her for her jewels
27	Value – Price
	Value = refers to a personal opinion
	Ex: We must realize the value of time
	Price = refers to a thing
	Ex: I paid a higher price for the book
28	Allow – Permit
	Allow = signifies a negative action
	Ex: She allowed me to park my car in her compound
	Permit = signifies a positive action
	Ex: My father permitted me to read letter
29	Admit – Confess
	Admit = to acknowledge as true
	Ex: I admitted that I had loved Pinky
	Confess = to admit guilt
	Ex: He confessed his guilt to the judge
30	Answer – Reply
	Answer = a question is answered
	Ex: I answered all the questions in the exam
	Reply = a letter is replied
	Ex: I replied to her letter
31	Attain – Acquire
	Attain = to get something by hardwork or exertion
	Ex: Daxina Murthy attained perfection in teaching
	Acquire = to hold a quality permanently
	Ex: She has acquired proficiency in linguistics
32	Ancient – Old
	Ancient = apposite to modern
	Ex: I am very fond of our ancient Hindu culture
	Old = opposite to new and young
	Ex: My mother is an old woman of sixty
33	Ability – Capacity
	Ability = skill in doing something
	Ex: I have ability to express my thoughts very effectively and convincingly.
	Capacity = power to hold or achieve
	Ex: Pinky has capacity for entertaining a hundred guests and so she invited all of us to dinner
34	Begin – Commence – Start
	Begin = refers to all occasions and things
	Ex: We must begin the work today
	Commence = refers to official actions
	Ex: The university examination will commence from next month
	Start = refers to physical movement
	Ex: The bust starts at 8 o’clock from Ambaji
35	Cite – Quote
	Cite = refers to thing or persons
	Ex: He cited many incidents of dowry death in his speech
	Quote = refers to only things
	Ex: He quoted several lines of Vivekananda’s speech in support of his argument
36	Compulsion – Obligation
	Compulsion = refers to physical force
	Ex: The minister resigned from his ministry under compulsion.
	Obligation = refers to moral judgement or duty
	Ex: Paying taxes to the government is our main obligation as citizens.
37	Confer – Bestow
	Confer = refers to an act of authority
	Ex: The President conferred titles on eminent scholars
	Bestow = refers to an act of generosity
	Ex: God bestowed reasoning power on us
38	Crime – Vice – Sin
	Crime = an offence against the law or government
	Ex: Untouchability is a crime against law
	Vice = an offence against moral law
	Ex: Drinking is a vice
	Sin = an offence against religion
	Ex: It is a sin to beat animals cruelly
39	Character – Conduct
	Character = the entire personality of a person
	Ex: Mahatma Gandhi was a man of noble character
	Conduct = the behavior of a person
	Ex: We must safeguard our conduct to get success in life
40	Contentment – Satisfaction
	Contentment = refers to mind
	Ex: Real contentment does not lie in money or wealth.
	Satisfaction = fulfillment of one’s expectations
	Ex: I have complete satisfaction over the progress achieved by Indians in diverse fields.
41	Contagious – Infectious
	Contagious = refers to a disease spread by contact
	Ex: Small-pox is a contagious disease
	Infectious = refers to a disease spread through air or water
	Ex: Malaria is an infectious disease
42	Cool – Cold
	Cool = refers to pleasant sensation
	Ex: A cool breeze was blowing
	Cold = refers to an unpleasant sensation
	Ex: I cannot endure cold climate
43	Defend – Protect
	Defend = refers to present danger
	Ex: We must defend our nation from terrorism
	Protect = refers to an unexpected danger
	Ex: A house protects us from natural calamities
44	Deny – refuse
	Deny = refers to a past action
	Ex: She denied having written the letter to me
	Refuse = refers to a request or wish
	Ex: My friend refused to help me
45	Doubt – Suspect
	Doubt = refers to a fact or statement
	Ex: I doubted her innocence
	Suspect = unwillingness to believe as true
	Ex: Pinky suspected my honesty in friendship
46	Event – Incident – Accident
	Event = an important occasion
	Ex: Industrial revolution is a great event in the history of England.
	Incident = an ordinary happening
	Ex: A reporter is very keen at daily incidents in the society
	Accident = a tragic happening
	Ex: Padma passed away in a fire accident
47	Famous – Notorious – Renowned
	Famous = used in a good sense
	Ex: India is famous for temples
	Notorious = used in bad sense
	Ex: He is notorious for his smuggling activities
	Renowned = used for higher reputation
	Ex: R.K.Narayan is a renowned Indian short story writer in English
48	House – Home
	House = a dwelling place or residence
	Ex: My uncle built a new house in Hyderabad.
	Home = a residence with pleasant memories
	Ex: Our’s is a happy home based on love and co-operation.
49	Hear – Listen
	Hear = an involuntary action
	Ex: Do you hear the song?
	Listen = a deliberate action
	Ex: I tried to listen to her words
50	Idle – Lazy
	Idle = refers to something created by circumstances
	Ex: I remained idle for long due to my illness
	Lazy = refers to something created by habit
	Ex: She is always lazy in her work
51	Libel – Slander
	Libel = refers to something printed or written
	Ex: Her statement amounted to libel it
	Slander = refers something to spoken
	Ex: They heard her remarks and they wanted to take an action for slander.
52	Oral – Verbal
	Oral = refers to spoken communication
	Ex: She was qualified in the oral test
	Verbal = refers to written words
	Ex: I found several verbal differences in his letter
53	Possible – Probable
	Possible = refers to something likely to take place
	Ex: It is possible that she will come today.
	Probable = chance of taking place
	Ex: It is probable that Abhay may marry
54	Praise – Admire
	Praise = commend a person for what he does
	Ex: He was praised for his bravery.
	Admire = commend a person for what he is.
	Ex: I admired Pinky for her beauty.
55	Recollect – Remember
	Recollect = call to mind with effort
	Ex: I tried to recollect a poem by Tagore.
	Remember = call to mind effortlessly
	Ex: I remember saying “You are the first boy in my life” to Pinky
56	Regret – Sorrow
	Regret = sorrow for a thing done earlier
	Ex: I felt regret in loving Pinky
	Sorrow = caused by some tragic incident
	Ex: I expressed my deep sorrow at her uncle’s sudden death
57	Substitute – Replace
	Substitute = replace new things by old ones
	Ex: I must substitute my new house by old one
	Replace = replace old things by new one
	Ex: I have to replace my old typewriter by a new one
58	Seem – Appear
	Seem = it means having comparison or similarity
	Ex: Pinky seems to be an air-hostess
	Appear = look like
	Ex: She appears worried about something
59	Sight – Scenery – Scene
	Sight = faculty of vision, a visible object or view
	Ex: What a beautiful sight it is!
	Scenery = the view of a landscape
	Ex: Kashmir is noted for its beautiful scenery
	Scene = a place where an event or accident takes place
	Ex: I saw Pinky’s shadow on the wall.

Compiled By: Chaudhary Amit V.