Stanch vs. staunch
Stanch: stop the flow of, check, allay. Staunch: firm and steadfast.
Loath vs. loathe (vs. loth)
Loathe is a verb. Loath is an adjective.
Envision vs. envisage
Both mean to visualize, but envisioning tends to involve more distant, imaginary things, while envisaging involves imagining reality-based projects and outcomes.
Lay vs. Lie – Usage, Difference & List of Examples
Lay makes laid and laying. Lie makes lay, lain, and lying.Â
Homogenous vs. homogeneous
Homogeneous: (1) of the same or similar nature, and (2) uniform in structure or composition. Homogenous: a scientific word now very often used in place of homogeneous in popular usage.
Empathy vs. sympathy
Empathy is the ability to emotionally identify with another person. Sympathy is compassion or affinity.
Populace vs. populous
Populace (n): the population or the general public. Populous (adj): having many people.
Amount vs. number
Mass nouns—i.e., uncountable things such as rain and courage—come in amounts. Count nouns—i.e., countable things such as people and dollars—come in numbers.
Assure, ensure, insure
Assure = (1) to make sure something occurs, (2) to give confidence to or encourage, or (3) to make (someone) certain (of something). Ensure = to make sure. Insure = to provide financial protection against loss.
Abstruse vs. obtuse
Abstruse = difficult to understand. Obtuse = (1) not pointed; (2) simpleminded or imperceptive.