Distinguishing Similar English Words: False, Revive, Fight
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Distinguishing Similar English Words
Understanding the subtle differences between similar words can greatly improve your English vocabulary and communication skills. Here's a breakdown of several commonly confused words:
Words Implying Falsehood
- FALSE: Not real.
- SPURIOUS: Not real.
- COUNTERFEIT: Made in close imitation of something else, always intended to deceive, especially of money and documents.
- FAKE: Made in close imitation of something else, always intended to deceive.
- BOGUS: Made in close imitation of something else, implying a negative value judgment.
- PHONY: Not real or true, always intended to deceive, implying a negative value judgment and arousing suspicion.
- MOCK: Made in close imitation of something else, intended as a substitute for the real thing.
- ARTIFICIAL: Not real or true, intended as a substitute for the real thing.
- SHAM: An obvious and naive imitation, implying a negative value statement (e.g., a sham marriage).
Words Related to Restoration
- REVIVE: To bring back to life, used for a person, a plant, old feelings, or an old tradition.
- RESTORE: To return something to its former state.
Occupational vs. Professional
- OCCUPATIONAL: Related to hazards or diseases in the workplace.
- PROFESSIONAL: Related to skills, ability, job, status, or a profession like football.
Words for Avoiding Something
- WARD OFF: To keep something at a distance or away (e.g., animals, evil, a blow).
- AVERT: To prevent something from happening (e.g., a crash, disaster, suspicion, one's eyes).
Words for Changing Something
- CHANGE: To alter one's mind, plans, or style.
- AMEND: To improve something written or drawn, such as a bill, a law, or a book.
Words for Obtaining Something
- GET: To obtain a job, a PhD, good qualifications, a sun tan, or prestige.
- ACQUIRE: To gain prestige, a sun tan, good taste, new skills, or wealth.
Words for Avoiding or Neglecting Something
- DODGE: To avoid an approaching object with a quick movement, or to avoid something one is supposed to do by deception.
- DUCK: To avoid an approaching object with a quick downward movement, or to avoid something one is supposed to do, a question, or a point in discussion.
- EVADE: To avoid something one is supposed to do by deception, or to avoid a question or point in discussion.
- SHIRK: To avoid something one is supposed to do, such as work or duty, because of laziness or cowardice.
Words for Tedious Work
- DRUDGERY: Non-creative and tedious work.
- GRIND: Tedious, routine, and long work.
- LABOUR: Often physically demanding work.
- TOIL: Long and tiring work.
Words for Removing or Stripping Something
- STRIP: To take off or take away a surface covering, furnishing, or decorations by pulling, tearing, or scraping off, suggesting complete removal, or to take away a distinction or mark of special privilege or treatment.
- DENUDE: To take off or take away a surface covering, emphasizing making objects completely bare.
- DIVEST: To take off or take away a surface covering, or to take away a distinction or mark of special privilege or treatment.
Words for Conflict
- FIGHT: To contend over something, with an enemy, disease, boredom, poverty, or with oneself.
- COMBAT: To fight the enemy, disease, poverty, or inflation.
- STRUGGLE: To fight against poverty, prejudice, for freedom, for independence, with an attacker or oneself, or to get free.