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Confusing words on GRE - I

There are many words which are similar in pronunciation, meaning or spelling. Choosing the right word that best fits your purpose can thus become a tedious task.

In GRE, you will be provided with only a simple text editor without a feature of auto-correct and thus there might be instances where you may get confused between certain words.
In such instances, it becomes important that you are aware of words that can confuse you.

So, we have made a collection of commonly misused/confused words in GRE. We will be posting these words regularly in conjunction with our Word Lists.

Save all these lists for future use and keep practicing them.

(1) abdicate vs. abrogate
abdicate (verb): to give something up ; renounce formally 
abrogate (verb): to cancel or annul a law

(2) arrogate vs. derogate
arrogate (verb): claim something presumptuously or without right
derogate (verb): lessen or detract a thing

(3) abjure vs. adjure
abjure (verb): renounce or abstain from something, with the implication that this is done publicly
adjure (verb): request someone to do something

(4) abstinent vs. abstemious
abstinent (adj.): abstaining or holding back from something, especially food and (alcoholic) drink
abstemious (adj.): not taking too much food or (alcoholic) drink

(5) abuse vs. misuse
abuse (verb): use something badly or wrongly
misuse (verb): use something in a way for which it was not intended, whether wrongly or not

(6) accede vs. concede
accede (verb): agree to something
concede(verb): accept grudgingly or reluctantly

(7) accept vs. except
Accept(verb): take something or someone
Except (verb): exclude something or someone

(8) accessory vs. accessary
Accessory (noun): something extra or additional
Accessary (noun): abettor of crime (who helped in the crime, directly or indirectly)

(9) acumen vs. acuity
Acumen (noun): ability to understand or appreciate things quickly and clearly
Acuity (noun): sharpness or keenness of thought or of senses

(10) aesthetic vs. ascetic
Aesthetic (adjective): beautiful or artistic
Ascetic (adjective): abstinence from worldly pleasures or creature comforts, often with the aim of spiritual game

(11) alias vs. alibi
Alias (noun): false name, but not a false description or personation
Alibi (noun): a statement that a person was somewhere else at the time a crime was committed 

(12) adjacent vs. adjoining
Adjacent (adj.): things placed next to each other without necessarily making physical contact
Adjoining (adj.): things having common point of contact with another

(13) allay vs. alleviate vs. assuage
Allay (verb): make something less or get rid of it altogether
Alleviate (verb): relieve something unpleasant or painful by making it less severe
Assuage (verb): similar to alleviate, but mainly used of unpleasant emotions or bodily sensations

(14) alternately vs. alternatively
Alternately (adverb): one after another, by turns
Alternatively (adverb): instead of

(15) ambiguous vs. ambivalent
Ambiguous (adj.): something which has more than one possible meaning and so is obscure or difficult to understand
Ambivalent (adj.): person having an uncertain attitude or feeling towards someone or something

(16) agnostic vs atheist
Agnostic (noun): person who holds the belief that it is impossible to know where there is a God or not
Atheist (noun): someone who believes that there is no God

(17) apprise vs. appraise
Apprise (verb): inform
Appraise (verb): evaluate

(18) assure vs. ensure vs. insure
Assure (verb): to make something sure or certain
Ensure (verb): to take steps to make sure that something happens 
Insure (verb): take precautions against something undesirable happening

(19) bail vs. bale
Bail (noun): provide cash to someone to get them put of a prison, or more generally to help them out of a difficult situation, especially a financial one
Bale (noun): to jump from an aircraft

(20) banister vs. baluster
Banister (noun): upright rails supporting the handrail in a staircase
Baluster (noun): one of the short pillars supporting the rail or stone around a balcony, terrace or the like

(21) balmy vs. barmy
Balmy (adj.): pleasant or soothing 
Barmy (adj.): mad; crazy

(22) blond vs. blonde
Blond (adj.): used when writing of a boy or a man
Blonde (adj.): used when writing of a girl or a woman

(23) broach vs. brooch
Broach (verb): open or introduce
Brooch (noun): ornament

(24) bated vs. baited
Bated (adj.): lessened
Baited (verb): enticed or tormented

(25) business vs busyness
Business (noun): doing or carrying out something 
Busyness (noun): state of being busy


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