Some words in English look similar but they have different meanings. Here is a collection of such words.
Curb / kerb
‘Curb’ means ‘to control or limit something in order to prevent it from having a harmful effect.’
Measures have been taken to curb the spread of the coronavirus.
‘Kerb’ is the edge of the pavement at the side of the road.
My car mounted the kerb and ploughed into a bus queue.
Currant / current
A ‘currant’ is a small, dark dried grape. ‘Current’ has two meanings. One is the flow of electricity, water or air. The other means ‘existing in the present time.’
Are you interested in current events?
Cyclone / hurricane / tornado / typhoon / waterspout
‘Cyclone’ is a very strong wind that moves very fast in a circle. ‘Hurricane’ is a storm that has very strong fast winds that move over water. ‘Tornado’ is an extremely violent storm consisting of air that spins very quickly and causes a lot of damage. ‘Typhoon’ is an extremely violent tropical storm. ‘Waterspout’ is a tall stream of water that the wind pulls up from the sea during a violent storm.
Cynical / sceptical
‘Cynical’ means ‘unwilling to believe that people have good, honest or sincere reasons for doing something’
Some people have a cynical view of human nature.
‘Sceptical’ means ‘tending to disagree with what other people tell you’
I am extremely sceptical about what I read in some newspapers.
Cyprus / cypress
‘Cyprus’ is a former British colony. A ‘cypress’ is a coniferous tree.
Dais / lectern / podium / rostrum
‘Dais’ is a low stage in a room that you stand on when you are making a speech or performing so that people can see and hear you. A ‘lectern’ is an object with a sloping surface that you put an open book or notes on while you are speaking to people in public. A ‘podium’ is a small raised area for a performer, speaker or musical conductor to stand on. A ‘rostrum’ is a small platform that you stand on when you are making a speech or conducting musicians.
Data / datum
‘Data’ is the plural form of ‘datum.’ However, the tendency to use ‘data’ as a singular word, particularly in the computer industry, is now acceptable.
Debar / disbar
‘Debar’ means ‘to officially prevent someone from doing something’
He was debarred from entering the premises.
‘Disbar’ is ‘to make a lawyer leave the legal profession’
Deceitful / deceptive
To be ‘deceitful’ is ‘to deliberately to mislead or cheat someone’
Roy’s manners were sly and deceitful.
‘Deceptive’ means ‘intended to make someone believe something that is not true.’
There are misleading and deceptive advertisements in some newspapers.
Decent / descent / dissent
‘Decent’ means ‘following moral standards.’
The majority of the residents in ‘Kalapura’ are decent citizens.
‘Descent’ means ‘the process of going down.’
Passengers must fasten their seat belts prior to descent.
‘Dissent’ means ‘to say that you disagree with an official decision or accepted opinion.
Some people would dissent from this view.
Decry / descry
‘Decry’ means ‘to state publicly that you do not approve of something.’
To ‘descry’ something is ‘to detect or discover it by careful looking.’
Suddenly they descried the vague shape of a tower.