Some words in English look similar but they have different meanings. Here is a selection of such confusable words.
Deduce / deduct / adduce
‘Deduce’ means ‘to arrive at a conclusion through reasoning.’
From her son’s age, I deduced that her husband must be at least 60.
‘Deduct’ means ‘to take away an amount or part from a total.’
Loan installments will be deducted from your salary.
‘Adduce’ means ‘to give facts or reasons in order to prove that something is true.’
The hypnotist adduced a series of demonstrations to the amusement of the audience.
Defective / deficient / defected
‘Defective’ means ‘not made properly or not working properly.’
Pavement hawkers sometimes sell defective products.
‘Deficient’ means ‘not containing or having enough of something.’
Those who are dieting can become iron deficient.
‘Defected’ means ‘left one’s own country to go to an opposing one.’
Boris was a Russian actor who defected to the West.
Defer / delay
‘Defer’ implies a decision to postpone while ‘delay’ carries overtones of slowing up a process. The final decision was deferred until January.
Non-payment of overtime to postmen will delay the delivery of letters.
Definite / definitive
‘Definite’ means ‘explicit, exact or clearly defined.’
I am unable to give you a definite answer today.
‘Definitive’ means ‘considered to be the best and cannot be improved.’
This is a definitive study of the ruined cities of Sri Lanka.
Defuse / diffuse
‘Defuse’ means ‘to remove a device or some circumstance likely to cause an explosion or an explosive situation.’
The minister’s assurance defused a tense situation in the transport sector.
‘Diffuse’ means ‘to spread ideas or information among a lot of people.’
Aristotle’s ideas diffused quickly across Europe.
Denote / connote
‘Denote’ means ‘to mean something.’
What does the word ‘dense’ denote?
If a word ‘connote’ something, it makes you think of qualities and ideas that are more than its meaning. The word ‘plump’ connotes cheerfulness.
Dependant / dependent
‘Dependant’ is someone who is dependent upon someone or some form of physical, moral or financial support.’
James had a lot of dependants in the village.
‘Dependent’ means ‘needing someone or something in order to exist.’
Norway’s economy is heavily dependent on natural resources.
Depository / repository
‘Depository’ means ‘a place where something can be safely kept.’
‘Repository’ means ‘a place or container in which large quantities of something are stored.’ They are building a fire-proof repository for important files.
Deprecate / depreciate
To ‘deprecate’ is ‘to disapprove or belittle something.’
Maya never missed an opportunity to deprecate her husband.
‘Depreciate’ means ‘to devalue something by criticism.’
Literary critics have depreciatGeed Sam’s latest novel.
Derision / derisive / derisory / desultory
‘Derision’ is ‘the act of mocking someone or something.’
John’s speech was greeted with derision by opposition members.
‘Derisive’ means ‘showing that you think someone or something is stupid or silly.’
Tyson’s knockout in the first round was met with derisive laughter. To be ‘derisory’ means ‘to be the object of derision.’ The nurses’ union regarded the management’s latest offer as utterly derisory. ‘Desultory’ means ‘done without any particular plan or purpose.’
Angelo made a desultory attempt at conversation.
Desert / dessert
‘Desert’ is a large area of land where it is always very dry and there is a lot of sand.
Do you know where the Sahara Desert is?
‘Dessert’ is ‘sweet food served after the main part of a meal.’ What are we having for dessert?