Commonly Confused Words, Grades 11–12: List 6

But the insecurities, those most insidious and stubborn of all the demons, were hers alone. Hidden Figures

Condemnation without trial is invidious, it suggests injustice and wakes suspicion. T.R. Glover

One of the most laudable functions of higher education is to facilitate upward mobility and increase inclusion of underrepresented minority populations — to, indeed, democratize society. Salon

Local reviews have been laudatory, and her voice sounds as powerful and assured as ever. New York Times

The luxuriant growth of the mustache was all the more peculiar because the overseer had hardly any hair on his head. Lyddie

There had been its original purchase by an American millionaire who was crazy about yachting—and an account of the luxurious modern house he had built on this little island off the Devon coast. And Then There Were None

She was beginning to fall victim to a morbid fascination with things from beyond the grave. The House of the Spirits: A Novel

The few birds seen anywhere were moribund; they trembled violently and could not fly. Silent Spring

These allegations embarrassed the government, and to combat them they brought in a string of outsiders meant to rebut these critical stories. Long Walk to Freedom

Printed books, by improving access to information, make it far easier to establish and refute facts. The Invention of Science

The king’s men succeeded only in getting lost in the dungeon’s tortuous mazes. The Tale of Despereaux: Being the Story of a Mouse, a Princess, Some Soup and a Spool of Thread

A slight breeze offered some relief from the insidious and torturous swarms of biting flies, stinging bees, and disease-spreading mosquitoes. Death on the River of Doubt

Dirty, turbid water can contain viruses, parasites, bacteria and other contaminants that cause illness. KFF Health News

Out with boring PowerPoints and turgid reports; in with witty videos that explain complex issues in digestible terms. Seattle Times

He noted that a number of the accused had been held in solitary confinement for unconscionable lengths of time. Long Walk to Freedom

The boy was lying unconscious just yards away from them in the shade of the coconut trees. The Boy Who Met a Whale

The portrait figures are nearly all unexceptionable and admirable. Encyclopedia Britannica

Photius praises the style of Hesychius, and credits him with being a veracious historian. Encyclopedia Britannica

“You said I have a voracious appetite,” he said, laughing, and then groaned again when his stomach spasmed. When Dimple Met Rishi

I averred that the fortifications there were not in a complete state of readiness, but we could imagine no other strategy. The Astonishing Life of Octavian Nothing, Traitor to the Nation, Volume II: The Kingdom on the Waves

In the course of complaining about his hard lot in life, he avowed that he could double his business overnight if only he could find enough reliable workers. Nickel and Dimed: On (Not) Getting By in America