Commonly Confused Words. Many English learners are confused about words that sound and look alike.
Confused Words in English
- bough – bow
– bough: branch of a tree
– bow: front of a ship or to bend the head
- brake – break
– brake: device for stopping something
– break: pause or separate into pieces
- breach – breech
– breach: break through of break a rule
– breech: back part of a gun barrel
- broach – brooch
– broach: raise a subject for discussion
– brooch: piece of jewellery
- canvas – canvass
– canvas: strong type of cloth
– canvass: seek someone’s vote
- censure – censor
– censure: strongly criticise
– censor: ban something or someone who does
- cereal – serial
– cereal: breakfast food or edible grain
– serial: happening in a series
- chord – cord
– chord: group or musical notes
– cord: length of string
- climactic – climatic
– climactic: creating a climax
– climatic: relating to the climate
- coarse – course
– coarse: rough or uneven
– course: direction, school subject, part of meal
- draught – draft
– draught: current of air
– draft: first version of a piece of writing
- draw – drawer
– draw: even score at the end of a game
– drawer: sliding storage compartment
- dual – duel
– dual: having two parts
– duel: contest between two participants
- elicit – illicit
– elicit: draw out a reply or reaction
– illicit: not allowed by law or against rules
- ensure – insure
– ensure: make certain something happens
– insure: pre-arrange to get compensation
- envelop – envelope
– envelop: cover or surround something
– envelope: paper container for a letter
- exercise – exorcise
– exercise: physical activity
– exorcise: drive out an evil spirit
- fawn – faun
– fawn: young deer or light brown colour
– faun: mythical part man part goat being
- flaunt – flout
– flaunt: display ostentatiously
– flout: disregard a rule or law
- forbear – forebear
– forbear: refrain from something
– forebear: ancestor
- complacent – complaisant
– complacent: smug or self-satisfied
– complaisant: willing to please
- complement – compliment
– complement: something added that improves
– compliment: express approval or admiring remark
- council – counsel
– council: group that manages or advises
– counsel: advice or to advise
- cue – queue
– cue: signal to act or a wooden rod
– queue: row of people or vehicles
- curb – kerb
– curb: limit or keep something in check
– kerb: stone edge of pavement
- currant – current
– currant: dried grape
– current: happening now, flow of fluid/ eclectricity
- defuse – diffuse
– defuse: make a situation less tense
– diffuse: spread over wide area
- desert – dessert
– desert: waterless, empty area or abandon
– dessert: sweet course of a meal
- discreet – discrete
– discreet: careful not to attract attention
– discrete: separate and distinct
- disinterested – uninterested
– disinterested: impartial
– uninterested: not interested
- foreword – forward
– foreword: introduction at start of a book
– forward: onwards or ahead
- freeze – frieze
– freeze: turn into ice
– frieze: decoration along a wall
- grisly – grizzly
– grisly: gruesome or revolting
– grizzly: type of bear
- hoard – horde
– hoard: stock or stash of money or things
– horde: large crowd of people
- imply – infer
– imply: indirectly suggest something
– infer: draw a conclusion from
- loath – loathe
– loath: reluctant or unwilling
– loathe: to hate someone or something
- loose – lose
– loose: set free or unfasten
– lose: be deprived of or fail to win
- bazaar – bizarre
– bazaar: a market in the Middle East
– bizarre: strange
- amoral – immoral
– amoral: unconcerned with right or wrong
– immoral: not following moral standards
- balmy – barmy
– balmy: pleasingly warm
– barmy: foolish or crazy
Confused Words in English – Images
Thanks.
Great information. Thanks