Affective is an adjective meaning influenced by emotions or arousing emotions. It is roughly synonymous with emotional. It's used mainly in psychology, where affective disorders are conditions characterized by emotional problems or mood disturbances, though it does appear occasionally outside ... Read more
Chafe vs. chaff
To chafe is to irritate by rubbing. For example, a poorly made shoe might chafe your ankle. The word is often metaphorical; for instance, you might be chafed by a bothersome coworker who talks too much. Also, chafe sometimes becomes intransitive, taking the preposition at (or sometimes under), so ... Read more
Depository vs. repository
In its oldest English sense, dating from the 15th century,1 a repository is a place where things are stored, usually for safe keeping. Depository, which entered English a couple of centuries later,2 bears the same meaning (though, considered etymologically, a depository is a place where things are ... Read more
Discomfit vs. discomfort
To discomfit is (1) to throw into confusion, perplex, or embarrass; or (2) to thwart or defeat, especially in military conflict. The second sense is the original---and a handful of people insist that it is still the only correct use---but the first is more common today and is rarely questioned. The ... Read more
Grateful vs. gratified
Grateful means thankful. Gratified means satisfied or pleased---or, often, pleased to receive something one has worked for or long desired. Gratification doesn't necessarily involve gratitude; for instance, one might be gratified to see positive effects of one's hard work, or a victim of crime ... Read more
Tolerance vs. toleration
Tolerance is a broadly defined noun with applications in science, medicine, and mechanics, in addition to its common use referring to one's acceptance of others' rights, beliefs, and practices. Toleration is mainly a less common variant of tolerance, though there are qualifications to this that ... Read more
Pall vs. pallor
As nouns, pall and pallor are unrelated. Pall refers primarily to a cloth draped over a coffin, and this definition gives rise to metaphorical senses: (1) something that shrouds or spreads over (e.g., a pall of fog), and (2) a gloomy atmosphere (as in the phrase cast a pall over). Pallor refers ... Read more
Misinformed vs. uninformed
Something that is misinformed is based on bad information. Something that is uninformed is based on no information or inadequate information. For example, a webpage on the difference between misinformed and uninformed would be uninformed if it were based on no research or experience, and it ... Read more
Analogue vs. analogy
An analogy is (1) a similarity between two things that are otherwise dissimilar, and (2) a comparison based on such a similarity. An analogue (now usually spelled analog in North America) is something that can be likened to something else by analogy. Related Analog vs. ... Read more
Recent vs. resent
Recent is an adjective describing things that occurred soon before the present. It is commonly misspelled resent, which is a verb meaning to feel bitter toward or aggrieved at. ... Read more
