Confused Words Exercise (536)
In each sentence, choose the correct word from the pair of similar terms. (If both words possibly can be correct, choose the more plausible one.)
Answers and Explanations
1. She was discomfited by the lukewarm applause that followed her performance.
discomfited: confused, embarrassed, or upset. "His unexpectedly angry reaction discomfited her."
discomforted: made uncomfortable, uneasy, or worried. "I was discomforted by the thought that the plan would fail as a result of some overlooked flaw."
2. Unfortunately, my so-called confidant couldn’t resist sharing my secret.
confidant (noun): a friend trusted keep a secret. "She has been my confidant through several personal crises." (The feminine form is confidante, though the masculine form is often used for either gender.)
confident (adj.): certain or optimistic that something will happen or is true. "I’m confident that we have prepared for all eventualities."
3. She has a morbid fascination with diseases.
morbid: gloomy, unhealthy. "Please spare me the morbid details about the murder."
moribund: close to death or failure. "The organization, with quickly declining funding and membership, is moribund."
4. The epitaph read, "Beloved father of Jane Smith."
epitaph: something said or written, especially on a gravestone, about a dead person. "The epitaph, and most of the other information on the headstone, had been worn away by time."
epithet: a nickname or description. "Because of his hygienic habits, he was given the epithet Mr. Clean."
5. The species is endemic to that island.
endemic: specific to or common in a given area. "That kind of behavior seems to be endemic to that age group."
epidemic: extremely prevalent or affecting many, or a widespread disease. "The nervous tension was epidemic, spreading through the crowd like a wave."
Related Articles