Commonly Confused Words, Grades 11–12: List 2

Learn the correct meanings and usages of these commonly confused words for eleventh- and twelfth-grade students.
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Full list of words from this list:

words only definitions & notes
  1. allude
    make an indirect reference to
    We had talked around him, alluded to him without quite mentioning him. Kindred
    To see more usage examples of "allude," click here.
    To learn more about the commonly confused words "allude" and "elude," click here.
  2. elude
    escape, either physically or mentally
    Even if they were lucky enough to elude the patrol, they could not possibly hide from the bloodhounds. Harriet Tubman: Conductor on the Underground Railroad
    To see more usage examples of "elude," click here.
    To learn more about the commonly confused words "allude" and "elude," click here.
  3. allusion
    passing reference or indirect mention
    “It will be called,” Mrs. Baker told us, “Operation Pegasus. Now, someone tell me the meaning of the classical allusion.” The Wednesday Wars
    To see more usage examples of "allusion," click here.
    To learn more about the commonly confused words "allusion," "illusion" and "delusion," click here.
  4. illusion
    an act of deception, considered magical by naive observers
    If this was real and not illusion, he’d escape whatever trap these creatures had set for him. Six of Crows
    To see more usage examples of "illusion," click here.
    To learn more about the commonly confused words "allusion," "illusion" and "delusion," click here.
  5. delusion
    an erroneous belief held in the face of contrary evidence
    They both know it’s wishful thinking that borders on delusion, but right now it’s all they have. Dry
    To see more usage examples of "delusion," click here.
    To learn more about the commonly confused words "allusion," "illusion" and "delusion," click here.
  6. amicable
    characterized by friendship and good will
    The pair is said to have had an amicable split and remain friendly, despite growing apart, TMZ reported. Los Angeles Times
    To see more usage examples of "amicable," click here.
    To learn more about the commonly confused words "amicable" and "amiable," click here.
  7. amiable
    diffusing warmth and friendliness
    “Yes, a young English lady. Very nice, very amiable. She had travelled from Baghdad.” Murder on the Orient Express
    To see more usage examples of "amiable," click here.
    To learn more about the commonly confused words "amicable" and "amiable," click here.
  8. censor
    forbid the public distribution of
    They also censored conversation: Anyone who dared to criticize Hitler or the Nazi Party faced imprisonment or execution. Hitler Youth: Growing Up in Hitler's Shadow
    To see more usage examples of "censor," click here.
    To learn more about the commonly confused words "censor" and "censure," click here.
  9. censure
    harsh criticism or disapproval
    Plato, who was small like his father, sang out with mock censure, “Shame on you, Callie. What did you do?” Middlesex: A Novel
    To see more usage examples of "censure," click here.
    To learn more about the commonly confused words "censor" and "censure," click here.
  10. confident
    having or marked by assurance
    I was confident of passing the final exams in December, so I began mapping out my future plans. Kaffir Boy: An Autobiography
    To see more usage examples of "confident," click here.
    To learn more about the commonly confused words "confident," "confidant" and "confidante," click here.
  11. confidant
    someone to whom private matters are told
    “Nobody knows of your poems? A teacher? A confidant?” Black Swan Green
    To see more usage examples of "confidant," click here.
    To learn more about the commonly confused words "confident," "confidant" and "confidante," click here.
  12. confidante
    a woman or girl to whom secrets can be entrusted
    She had always been his ultimate confidante, the person he could trust with his self-doubts, vanities, and overflowing opinions. Founding Brothers: The Revolutionary Generation
    To see more usage examples of "confidante," click here.
    To learn more about the commonly confused words "confident," "confidant" and "confidante," click here.
  13. correlation
    a reciprocal connection between two or more things
    Let’s start with the positive correlation: books in the home equal higher test scores. Freakonomics: A Rogue Economist Explores the Hidden Side of Everything
    To see more usage examples of "correlation," click here.
    To learn more about the commonly confused words "correlation" and "corollary," click here.
  14. corollary
    occurring at the same time, along with, or as a consequence
    The high rate of turnover had the corollary benefit of keeping to a minimum the number of individuals who understood the building’s secrets. The Devil in the White City
    To see more usage examples of "corollary," click here.
    To learn more about the commonly confused words "correlation" and "corollary," click here.
  15. definitely
    without question and beyond doubt
    He would swear definitely that there had been eight china figures upon the dining table when he laid the table for lunch. And Then There Were None
    To see more usage examples of "definitely," click here.
    To learn more about the commonly confused words "definitely" and "definitively," click here.
  16. definitively
    in a conclusive way
    The truth is that this is not a question that I—or anyone else, for that matter—can answer definitively. Blink
    To see more usage examples of "definitive," click here.
    To learn more about the commonly confused words "definitely" and "definitively," click here.
  17. figuratively
    in a non-literal sense
    We were, literally and figuratively, in the same boat. Life of Pi
    To see more usage examples of "figuratively," click here.
    To learn more about the commonly confused words "figuratively" and "literally," click here.
  18. literally
    in a sense limited to explicit meaning
    I also found on Google the next day that Popocatepetl is really a volcano, and the name is literally Nahuatl for “smoking mountain.” The Last Cuentista
    To see more usage examples of "literally," click here.
    To learn more about the commonly confused words "figuratively" and "literally," click here.
  19. pragmatic
    concerned with practical matters
    Bobby’s pragmatic philosophy was similar to the old Arabic saying “Trust in Allah but tie up your camel.” Endgame
    To see more usage examples of "pragmatic," click here.
    To learn more about the commonly confused words "pragmatic" and "dogmatic," click here.
  20. dogmatic
    characterized by assertion of unproved principles
    She can, at times, feel like a very opinionated friend, or a brilliant but demanding teacher: a little too dogmatic, slightly exhausting. The Guardian
    To see more usage examples of "dogmatic," click here.
    To learn more about the commonly confused words "pragmatic" and "dogmatic," click here.
Created on Wed Jan 03 17:46:17 EST 2024 (updated Mon Mar 04 09:36:12 EST 2024)

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