15 Frequently Confused Pairs of Verbs

15 Frequently Confused Pairs of Verbs 15 Frequently Confused Pairs of Verbs 15 Frequently Confused Pairs of Verbs By Mark Nichol These similar-looking words below have dissimilar meanings. Make sure you’re using the write one in each pair. 1. Amused/bemused: To be amused is to be entertained; to be bemused is to be confused. 2. Appraise/apprise: To appraise is to evaluate; to apprise is to inform. 3. Ascribe/subscribe: To ascribe is to attach an idea to a source; to subscribe is to hold belief in an idea. 4. Attain/obtain: To attain is to reach; to obtain is to acquire. 5. Barter/haggle: To barter is to trade; to haggle is to negotiate. 6. Born/borne: To be born is to be brought forth; to be borne is to be carried along. 7. Borrow/loan: To borrow is to receive something for temporary use; to loan is to provide something on those terms. 8. Careen/career: To careen is to lean over to one side or to sway; to career is to hurry carelessly. (And to carom is to ricochet.) 9. Censor/censure: To censor is to ban; to censure is to reprimand. 10. Criticize/critique: To criticize is to judge harshly or in a negative manner; to critique is to evaluate. 11. Denigrate/deprecate: To denigrate is to defame or belittle; to deprecate is to disapprove or deemphasize (but can also, like denigrate, mean to disparage). 12. Differ/vary: To differ is to disagree or to be distinct from; to vary is to change (although differ can also refer to variation). 13. Espouse/expound: To espouse is to support; to expound means to state, explain, or defend (which is also distinct from the phrase â€Å"expand on,† which means to provide additional or digressive details). 14. Rebut/refute: To rebut is to argue in response to another argument; to refute is to deny an argument. 15. Wangle/wrangle: To wangle is to obtain by underhanded means; to wrangle is to wrestle. Want to improve your English in five minutes a day? Get a subscription and start receiving our writing tips and exercises daily! Keep learning! Browse the Misused Words category, check our popular posts, or choose a related post below:12 Signs and Symbols You Should KnowDriver License vs. Driver’s LicenseDrama vs. Melodrama