BrainCan - usage

impudent vs imprudent

Impudent (casually rude, insolent) and imprudent are two words that are similar in spelling and...

redress vs readdress

Redress and readdress are similar in pronunciation and spelling but hold very different meanings. We...

lessen vs lesson

Lessen means to diminish,to reduce, to fabricate (to make up, invent) tiny. Lessen may be used as a...

$fractious vs fracas$

fractious vs fracas

Fractious ((adj.) troublesome or irritable) and fracas are two words that are close in pronunciation...

haughty vs hottie

Haughty (proud, arrogant) describes someone who is arrogant,disdainful, feels superior to others....

definite vs definitive

determined means unambiguous,certain, precisely defined, or clear,indisputable, known for certain....

truculent

Truculent (ready to fight; cruel) is a word that many find confusing. We will examine the definition...

spiffy

Spiffy (stylish) is an American term that first appeared in the mid-1800s,though its origin is not...

exacerbate vs exasperate

Exacerbate and exasperate are two words that sound and perceive similar,but bear very different...

benchmark

Benchmark is a word that began with a literal meaning,but has arrive to also have a figurative...

parody vs parity

Parody (humorous or ridiculous imitation) and parity are two words that are very close in...

cantankerous

Cantankerous (irritating, difficult) is a word of uncertain origin,though its definition has...

muckamuck, mucky muck and muckety muck

The terms muckamuck,mucky-muck and muckety-muck are different variations of the same term. We will...

scrumdiddlyumptious

Scrumdiddlyumptious is a word with an racy origin. We will look at the meaning of...

inherent vs inherit

Inherent and inherit are two words with similar pronunciations and spellings,but mean two very...

imbibe vs imbue

Imbibe means to drink a beverage,usually an alcoholic beverage. Imbibe may also mean to prefer in...

no brainer

No-brainer describes something that requires little brain power,something that doesn’t take much...

addlepated, addlebrained and addleheaded

Addlepated,addlebrained and addleheaded are interesting words, with roots in the seventeenth...

irk

The word irk is a transitive verb,which is a verb that takes an object. We will examine the...

$factious vs fractious$

factious vs fractious

Factious and fractious ((adj.) troublesome or irritable) are two words that are very close in...

hoodwink

Hoodwink (to deceive) is a word with an though-provoking history,and it may be older than you...

covert vs overt

Covert and overt are antonyms,which are two words that have opposite meanings from one another. We...

pervert vs subvert

Pervert means to distort,to use something wrongly, to corrupt, or to draw someone absent from the...

harridan and harpy

A harridan (shrewish woman) is a woman who is known for scolding others,for being belligerent, for...

spoof

Spoof describes a humorous parody (humorous or ridiculous imitation) or satire or the act of...

$fractious vs fraction$

fractious vs fraction

Fractious ((adj.) troublesome or irritable) and fraction are two words that are spelled and...

inveterate vs invertebrate

Inveterate ((adj.) stubbornly established by habit) and invertebrate are two words that are very...

fluorescent vs incandescent

Fluorescent and incandescent are two terms that are normally used to describe a certain household...

cloture vs closure

Cloture and closure are two words that are often confused. We will examine the disagreement between...

latter vs ladder

Latter and ladder are two words that are often confused. We will examine the difference in meaning...

acclimation vs acclamation

Acclimation and acclamation are two words which are very similar in spelling and pronunciation but...

scared vs scarred

Scared and scarred are two words that are often confused. We will look at the contrast in meaning...

namby pamby

Namby-pamby is an racy word because it was invented to describe a certain person and his work. We...

chain letter

The chain letter is an American invention,though chain letters absorb been active in many other...

infuse vs suffuse

Infuse and suffuse are two words that look and sound similar,but absorb slightly different meanings....

helpless vs hapless

Helpless and hapless are two words that are pronounced similarly and spelled similarly,but have...

restrict vs constrict

Restrict and constrict are two words that are easily confused. They own subtly different meanings....

gruel vs grueling

Gruel and grueling are two words that seem related. They both stem from the same origins,but their...

burnish vs tarnish

Burnish and tarnish are two similar-sounding words that fill very different definitions. We will...

capitulate vs recapitulate

Capitulate and recapitulate are two words that seem like they should have related definitions,but...

infectious vs contagious

The words infectious and contagious are often used interchangeably,but they do not mean precisely...

explicate vs expletive

Explicate means to examine something methodically and develop a theory or to explain it clearly....

silviculture

Silviculture is the science of the cultivation of trees to meet diverse needs. Silviculture is a...

seasonable vs seasonal

Seasonable means appropriate or usual for the season of the year,something is taking plot during the...

deduct vs deduce

Deduct means to win absent a portion of something,to subtract something. Deduct is a transitive...

captivate vs capture

Captivate means to charm,to catch and hold the attention of others. Captivate is a transitive verb,...

getaway vs get away

Getaway is 1.) a spot to enjoy a vacation,somewhere to relax and rejuvenate 2.) an escape,...

bezel vs embezzle

Bezel and embezzle (to steal money by falsifying records) are pronounced in a similar fashion. The...

retrograde vs anterograde or antegrade

Retrograde and anterograde or antegrade are antonyms,which are words that believe opposing meanings....

gallimaufry

Gallimaufry (mixture, jumble) is a word that is seldom used in common English,and may be confusing...

canny vs uncanny

Canny and uncanny appear to be antonyms,but they are not. Antonyms are two or more words that occupy...

apostle

The word apostle is very common in the unique testomony of the Bible,though it is also used outside...

supercilious

Supercilious (haughty) is an adjective that has been in employ since the early sixteenth century. We...

penchant vs pension

Penchant (a tendency, partiality, or preference) and pension are two words that are close in...

dredge vs drudge

Dredge and drudge are two words that are very close in spelling and pronunciation and are often...

lassitude, lethargy and languor

Lassitude,lethargy and languor occupy similar meanings, but one of these words has a slightly...

meretricious vs meritorious

Meretricious and meritorious are two words that are often confused. We will survey at the difference...

repute vs refute

Repute and refute are two words that may be confusing. They are pronounced similarly and spelled...

serif vs seraph

Serif and seraph are two words that are pronounced and spelled similarly but gain different...

aspiration vs inspiration

Aspiration and inspiration are two words that can be confusing. We will look at the contrast between...

tool vs tulle

Tool and tulle are two words that are pronounced similarly but are spelled differently and have...

slumgullion and goulash

Slumgullion and goulash are two words that are sometimes used interchangeably,but in reality believe...

tussie mussie vs nosegay

Tussie-mussie and nosegay are two words that occupy similar,but slightly different meanings. We will...

duplicate vs duplicity

Duplicate and duplicity are two words that come from the same roots but own different meanings. We...

bacteria vs virus

Bacteria and virus are two terms that are easily confused. We will look at the incompatibility in...

aggravate vs mitigate

Aggravate and mitigate are antonyms,which are words that maintain opposite meanings to each other....

whig vs wig

The words Whig and wig are pronounced similarly and hold similar spellings,but very different...

duplicate vs replicate

Duplicate and replicate are two words that are sometimes confusing. Their meanings are similar,but...

coop, coup or coupe

Coop,coup and coupe are three words that are pronounced similarly and are spelled similarly, but...

smithereens

Smithereens is a word that is always rendered in the plural form. Smithereens is only seen in the...

wake vs awake

Wake and awake are very close in their pronunciation and spelling but own a slight disagreement in...

juggernaut

Juggernaut is a word with an spirited origin,derived from Hindi. We’ll perceive at the meaning of...

serigraph vs lithograph

A serigraph and a lithograph are prints made of an original piece of art,however, the processes used...

sarcophagus vs mausoleum

The words sarcophagus and mausoleum are often used interchangeably,but in reality, there is a...

poppycock

Poppycock is a word that originated in the United States in the mid-1800s,though England embraced...

equivocate vs prevaricate

The words equivocate and prevaricate sound similar and fill similar meanings,but there is a definite...

alcoholism vs dipsomania

Alcoholism is an addiction or a dependency on alcohol. The word alcoholism comes from the...

gleam vs glean

Gleam means to shine brightly,especially from reflected light. Gleam may also narrate something...

reluctant vs reticent

Reluctant means disinclined to conclude something,unwilling to conclude something, resistant to...

precipitate vs precipitous

Precipitate means 1.) to cause moisture to fall from the sky in the form of rain,snow, sleet, or...

indeterminate vs indeterminable

Indeterminate means uncertain as to the extent,amount is not established, undefined, or not fixed....

convocation, commencement or invocation

Convocation,graduation and invocation are three words that are similar, but have different meanings....

number vs numeral

Many people employ the words number and numeral interchangeably,but these two words conclude not...

salubrious vs lugubrious

The words salubrious and lugubrious (mournful, dismal) are in no way related,though they are still...

atlas

The word atlas was first used in the late 1500s. We will examine the meaning of the word atlas,its...

ensconce vs sconce

Ensconce and sconce are two words that are close in spelling and pronunciation,and are sometimes...

malfeasance, misfeasance and nonfeasance

Malfeasance,misfeasance and nonfeasance are terms that absorb legal implications. We will examine...

gibberish

The exact origin of the word gibberish is unknown,though the word has been in the language since the...

apoplectic vs apocalyptic

Apoplectic and apocalyptic are two words that are close in spelling and pronunciation and are often...

satisficing vs satisfying

Satisficing and satisfying are two words that are fairly similar in pronunciation and spelling,but...

psalter vs salter

Psalter and salter are two words that are often confused. They are pronounced in the same manner but...

erratum, addendum and corrigendum

Erratum,addendum and corrigendum are all terms that are used in publishing, legal documents and...

roux, rue or roue

Roux,rue and roué are three words that are often confused. We will spy at the definitions of roux,...

piebald, skewbald, pinto or paint

Piebald,skewbald, pinto and paint are all terms that picture coloration patterns for horses. We will...

sequins vs sequence

Sequins and sequence are two words that sound very similar but have different spellings and...

delude vs dilute

Delude and dilute are two words that are pronounced similarly and look similar,but bear very...

overthink vs think over

Overthink and think over are two terms that seem very similar but in fact gain different meanings....

spite vs respite

Although the words spite and respite appear to be related words,they are not. We will look at the...

desolate vs destitute

The words desolate and destitute are often confused. We will examine the definitions of desolate and...

perpetrate vs perpetuate

Perpetrate and perpetuate are two words that are spelled and pronounced similarly and are often...

strop vs strap

Strop and strap are two words that are spelled and are pronounced in similar ways but do not mean...

bullion vs boullion

Bullion and bouillon are spelled and pronounced very similarly,but beget very different meanings....

soliloquy vs monologue

A soliloquy and a monologue are both spoken by one person,but there is a difference between the two....

morbid vs moribund

Morbid and moribund are two words that very close in pronunciation and spelling,but mean two...

plaintive vs plaintiff

Plaintive describes something that sounds mournful or sad,such as a moan, a sigh or a musical work....

petroglyph vs pictograph

A petroglyph is a carving in a rock,generally a prehistoric carving in a rock. A petroglyph may be...

lagniappe

A lagniappe is a bonus,a complimentary gift. Usually, a lagniappe is a bonus that a merchant gives...

incipient or inchoate

Incipient means beginning,something in the opening stages of happening. Related terms are...

ne er do well

A ne’er-accomplish-well is someone who is no good,a good-for-nothing, an irresponsible, and...

twee

Twee means something cloyingly precious,dainty, sweet, and quaint (charmingly old fashioned),tiny or...

expatriate vs immigrant

Expatriate refers to someone living outside his native country. Expatriate may be used as an...

apprehend vs comprehend

Apprehend and comprehend are two words that sound similar and are spelled in a similar fashion,but...

affinity vs infinity

Affinity and infinity are two words that are close in spelling and pronunciation,but absorb very...

covet vs covert

The words covet and covert are very close in pronunciation and are sometimes confused. We will...

foley

The term foley has an interesting origin,dating back to the early days of broadcasting. We will...

immolate vs emulate

Immolate and emulate are two words that are similar in spelling and pronunciation,but have very...

pogrom vs genocide

Pogrom and genocide are two words that are similar in meaning,but with a slight difference. We will...

indiscriminate vs undiscriminating

Indiscriminate and undiscriminating are two adjectives that believe similar meanings,though there is...

antichrist

Antichrist is a term that dates back to the founding of Christianity,though its meaning has expanded...

pathetic vs apathetic

Pathetic and apathetic are two words that are close in spelling and pronunciation,but have different...

debauchery

The term debauchery (sensual gratification) dates back to the 1640s. We will examine the definition...

decisive vs divisive

Decisive and divisive are two words that are pronounced and spelled similarly,but have different...

eggnog

The word eggnog is often used at Christmastime,though the origin of this term is in dispute. We will...

kakistocracy

Kakistocracy is a word that is several hundred years dilapidated,but has recently seen an upsurge in...

allegation vs accusation

Allegation and accusation are two words that are often confused,but there is a subtle...

indian corn

Indian corn is a term that originated in America and is a reference to the Native Americans. We will...

blowhard and windbag

Blowhard and windbag are derogatory terms that have slightly different definitions. We will examine...

impends vs impinge

Impends and impinge are two words that are spelled and pronounced in a similar fashion,but gain very...

jingle vs jangle

Jingle and jangle are generally very close in meaning,but with very different connotations. A...

cruciferous

Cruciferous is a word that many find confusing. We will examine the definition of the word...

boot camp

Boot camp is an American term with uncertain origins. We will examine the meaning of the term boot...

contronym and auto antonym

Contronym and auto-antonym are two terms that characterize a certain unusual category of words. We...

come hither look

The term come-hither inspect first appeared around the turn of the twentieth century. We will...

comprise vs compromise

Comprise and compromise are two words that are very close in spelling and pronunciation,but have...

verbatim vs paraphrase

Verbatim and paraphrase are two words that are sometimes confused. We will examine the difference...

practical joke

Surprisingly,the term practical joke is approximately 250 years outmoded. We will examine the...

plutocrat vs autocrat

Plutocrat and autocrat are two words that are sometimes used interchangeably,but in reality maintain...

depravation vs deprivation

Depravation and deprivation are two words that are very close in spelling and pronunciation which...

qualm vs calm

Qualm and unexcited are two words that are very similar in spelling and pronunciation,but contain...

mortar board

The term mortar board is not as old as the expend of the mortar board itself. We will examine the...

approbation vs opprobrium

The words approbation and opprobrium have definitions that are directly opposite to each other,which...

insolent vs insolvent

Insolent and insolvent are two words that are sometimes confused. We will examine the difference...

treatise vs treaties

Treatise and treaties are two words that are often confused. We will witness at the difference...

complacent vs complicit

Complacent and complicit are two words that are often confused. We will examine the difference...

peccadillo

Peccadillo (minor offense) is a loanword. Loanwords and loan phrases are terms that have been taken...

goldbrick

The term goldbrick has followed an interesting route to advance to the meaning that it carries...

contingency vs contingent

Contingency and contingent are two words that are often confused. We will examine the difference...

cognate and false cognate

Cognate and false cognate are linguistic terms. We will behold at the definitions of cognate and...

bawdy vs body

Bawdy and body are two words that are pronounced extremely similarly but beget different spellings...

erupt vs irrupt

Erupt and irrupt are two words that are often confused. We will discover the difference between the...

vertigo vs vertiginous

Vertigo and vertiginous are two words that are sometimes confused. We will look at the meanings of...

butter wouldn t melt in his mouth

Butter wouldn’t melt in his mouth is a proverb that is especially celebrated in the American...

nitty gritty

Nitty-gritty is an American word,though its exact origin is up for debate. We will look at the...

freudian slip

Freudian slip is a well-liked term for a psychological concept. We will look at the definition of...

explicit vs implicit

Explicit and implicit are two words that are opposite in meaning,they are antonyms. We will eye at...

stool pigeon

The word stool pigeon has an moving origin and evolution in meaning. We will watch at the definition...

epitome vs epiphany

Epitome and epiphany are two words that are similar in pronunciation and spelling,and they are often...

hanker vs hunker

Hanker and hunker are two words that are spelled similarly and also pronounced similarly,but have...

blackmail vs extortion

The terms blackmail and extortion are often used interchangeably though in fact,there is a subtle...

reverent vs reverend

The words reverent and reverend can be confusing. Though they are spelled and pronounced...

taro vs tarot

Taro and tarot are spelled similarly and may be pronounced similarly,but have very different...

flummox

The word flummox sounds somewhat comical. It first appeared in the English language in the mid-1800s...

regimen vs regiment

Regimen and regiment are two words that are very similar in pronunciation and spelling but fill two...

parentheses vs brackets

How and when to use parentheses and brackets can be confusing. We will seek at how parentheses and...

scrimp vs skimp

Scrimp and skimp are two words that sound similar and are spelled similarly,but mean different...

tartar or tartare

Tartar and tartare are two words that are spelled similarly and are also pronounced similarly,but...

hieroglyph vs hierograph

Hieroglyph and hierograph are two different words that are spelled and pronounced similarly,but have...

espouse vs expound

Espouse and expound are two words that sound and look similar,but own two very different meanings....

will o the wisp

Will-o’-the-wisp is a word that was derived from a phrase popular in the 1600s. It describes a...

expound vs expand

Expand and expound are two words that are close in spelling and pronunciation. They are often...

acronym vs anacronym

Acronym and anacronym are two words that are spelled and pronounced in a similar manner,but hold...

photogenic vs photographic

Photogenic and photographic are two words that are very close in spelling and pronunciation but have...

decathlon, heptathlon, pentathlon, triathlon and...

The decathlon is a summer sporting event that consists of ten track and field events over two days....

expedient vs expeditious

Expedient describes something that is suitable,an action that is appropriate for the situation....

noisome vs noisy

Noisome describes something that has an extremely obnoxious odor. Noisome also describes something...

repetitive vs redundant

Repetitive means repeating something over and over again,unnecessarily. Repetitive is an adjective,...

didactic vs pedantic

Didactic refers to something that is intended to teach something or demonstrate something,especially...

wreak vs wreck

Wreak means inflict vengeance,to cause harm, to unleash enrage. Wreak is a verb, or related words...

exhort vs extort

Exhort means to forcefully urge a person to finish something,to strongly advise. Exhort is a verb,...

should have, should ve or should of

Should occupy refers to a missed opportunity,an unfulfilled obligation. Should occupy is often...

motive vs motif

A motive is the reason for an action,the psychological force that propels someone to act in a...

inventive vs innovative

Inventive and innovative are two words that are spelled similarly and pronounced in a similar...

significant other

Significant other is a term that has increased in popularity over the last thirty years. We will...

ngo vs gmo

NGO and GMO are abbreviations known as initialisms,which are initial-letter abbreviations that are...

were vs we re

Were and we’re are two words that are often confused,particularly if the writer does not...

outsource

Outsource is a relatively original word that was coined in the 1980s. We will examine the definition...

insolent vs insulate

Insolent and insulate are two words that are close in spelling and pronunciation,but contain...

proliferate vs profligate

The words proliferate and profligate are close in spelling and pronunciation,but have very different...

was vs were

Many people are confused as to when to use the verb was and when to use the verb were. There is...

wobble vs warble

Wobble and warble are two words that are very close in pronunciation and spelling,but have different...

fodder vs father

Fodder and father are two words that are close in pronunciation,but are spelled differently and have...

punctilious vs punctual

Punctilious and punctual are two words that are close in spelling. They share etymology,but have...

compunction vs compulsion

Compunction and compulsion are two words that sometimes confused. We will examine the definitions of...

pitchblende

Pitchblende is a term that has been in employ in the English language since 1770,long before the...

fiefdom

Fiefdom is an though-provoking word that dates to the 1600s. We will examine the meaning of the word...

dilapidated

Dilapidated is an curious word with roots that date back at least to the sixteenth century. We will...

sequacious

Sequacious is a word that is rarely used,and is therefore confusing to some people. We will examine...

cease and surcease

Cease and surcease are words that are related,but may be confusing. We will examine the definitions...

shard or sherd

Shard and sherd are two words that are close in pronunciation and spelling,and many people find them...

lumber vs lumbar

Lumber and lumbar are two words that are close in spelling and pronunciation,but believe different...

usage

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