Confusing Words in English

Affect: to pretend a feel or think something.

Effect: to bring about

Adverse: Hostile

Averse: harbouring dislike to

Accelerate: to increase the speed

Expedite: to assist and hasten the progress of

Application: the process of applying

Implication: meaning implied but not explicitly stated

Ancient: very old

Antique: old fashioned

Apprehend: to grasp

Comprehend: to understand fully

Assent: official concurrence or sanction

Ascent: climbing up

Amiable: lovable

Amicable: friendly

Adapt: make something suitable to or a purpose

Adopt: to take a person into a new relationship.

Apposite: relevant, suitable

Opposite: contrary

Allusion: reference

Illusion: false notion

Abstract: a brief summary

Extract: a passage taken from a book, etc.

Avert: to turn away, ward off

Invert: to turn upside down

Attenuate: smaller

Extenuate: to diminish, lessen

Accept: to receive with favour

Except: not included

Aught: anything

Ought: should

Advise: (Verb)

Advice: (Noun)

Affection: Love

Affectation: pretense or artificiality

Artful: cunning

Artificial: not natural

Artist: one who practices the fine arts, especially painting

Artisan: one who follows one of the useful crafts.

Accede: agree

Exceed: be greater than

Beside: by the side of

Besides: in addition to

Beneficial: useful

Beneficent: kind, doing good

Bridal: of bride or wedding

Bridle: control

Canon: a rule or principle.

Cannon: a heavy gun

Canvas: a tent

Canvass: to request votes

Council: an assembly of leaders, advisers etc

Counsel: advice

Corporal: Physical

Corporate: of or belonging to a body politic

Continual: frequent

Continuous: unceasing

Childlike: like a child

Childish: immature

Congenial: suitable, agreeable

Congenital: from birth

Capture: seize

Captivate: fascinate

Ceremonious: observing formalities

Ceremonial: connected with a ceremony

Collision: violent contact

Collusion: secret understanding in order to deceive somebody.

Compliment: expression of regard

Complement: full number required

Confident: sure

Confidential: trusted, secret

Comprehensive: exhaustive

Comprehensible: understandable

Confirm: ratify

Conform: comply with

Contagious: spreading by contact
Contiguous: adjoining, bordering

Dependent (Adjective)
Dependant (Noun)

Destiny: fate

Destination: goal

Dual: double

Duel: a combat between two persons

Disease: illness

Decease: death

Distinct: Separate

Distinctive: characteristic

Disposal: sale, getting rid of

Disposition: the particular type of character that a person generally has

Eligible: qualified

Illegible: unreadable

Elusive: difficult to describable, find, achieve or remember

Illusive: deceptive

Emigrate: to leave one’s country with a view to settling in a foreign country.

Immigrate: to come into a country to settle there

Eminent: Illustrious

Imminent: about to happen

Estimate: calculation

Estimation: opinion

Esteem: respect

Facilitate: make easy

Felicitate: congratulate

Fain: gladly

Feign: pretend

Flagrant: glaring, scandalous

Fragrant: sweet smelling

Graceful: full of grace

Gracious: full of Kindness

Imaginary: not real

Imaginative: gifted with imagination

Industrial: pertaining to industry.

Industrious: hard working

Ingenious: clever

Judicial: legal

Judicious: prudent

Junction: meeting place

Juncture: grave situation

Luxurious: given to luxury

Luxuriant: rich in growth

Momentary: Lasting for a moment

Momentous: very important

Masterful: imperious

Masterly: skillful

Metal: substance like iron, gold etc.

Mettle: quality, courage

Official: pertaining to an office.

Officious: offering service that is not wanted.

Popular: liked by the people.

Populous: thickly inhabited

Principal: chief

Principle: fundamental truth

Reverend: feeling reverence

Reverent: feeling reverence

Stationary: motionless

Stationery: writing materials

Sanguine: hopeful
Sanguinary: bloody

Verbal: relating to words

Verbose: wordy, prolix

Wave: brandish

Waive: relinquish