Commonly Confused Words, Grades 11–12: List 1

Learn the correct meanings and usages of these commonly confused words for eleventh- and twelfth-grade students.
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Full list of words from this list:

words only definitions & notes
  1. cite
    make reference to
    In her speeches, Anthony cited the Declaration of Independence, the US Constitution, and the New York Constitution; she quoted American patriots. Votes for Women!
    To see more usage examples of "cite," click here.
    To learn more about the commonly confused words "cite," "site" and "sight," click here.
  2. site
    physical place in relation to the surroundings
    At 3 p.m., those of us who signed up for the Rachel Carson Day trash removal project line up to board the bus that will take us to the cleanup site. Shine!
    To see more usage examples of "site," click here.
    To learn more about the commonly confused words "cite," "site" and "sight," click here.
  3. sight
    an instance of visual perception
    But there was a sight even worse than the ruined forest: the mountain. I Survived the Eruption of Mount St. Helens, 1980
    To see more usage examples of "sight," click here.
    To learn more about the commonly confused words "cite," "site" and "sight," click here.
  4. contemptible
    deserving of scorn or disrespect
    I finished by telling him that he was a contemptible man without honor, and that if he ever repeated those same words I would not hold myself back as I had that day. Long Walk to Freedom
    To see more usage examples of "contemptible," click here.
    To learn more about the commonly confused words "contemptible" and "contemptuous," click here.
  5. contemptuous
    expressing extreme scorn
    She wrinkled her nose and cast a contemptuous look through the window at the crumbling plaster of the neighboring houses. The Thief Lord
    To see more usage examples of "contemptuous," click here.
    To learn more about the commonly confused words "contemptible" and "contemptuous," click here.
  6. exalt
    raise in rank, character, or status
    His reputation with the Army was at stake, and his ambition to conquer Troy and exalt Greece. Mythology: Timeless Tales of Gods and Heroes
    To see more usage examples of "exalt," click here.
    To learn more about the commonly confused words "exalt" and "exult," click here.
  7. exult
    express great joy
    “I knew it! I knew it! Oh, my Jo, I am so proud!” and Beth ran to hug her sister and exult over this splendid success. Little Women
    To see more usage examples of "exult," click here.
    To learn more about the commonly confused words "exalt" and "exult," click here.
  8. incredible
    beyond belief or understanding
    Then, turning to his students, “What I’m going to tell you now,” he said, “may sound incredible. But then, when you’re not accustomed to history, most facts about the past do sound incredible.” Brave New World
    To see more usage examples of "incredible," click here.
    To learn more about the commonly confused words "incredible" and "incredulous," click here.
  9. incredulous
    not disposed or willing to believe; unbelieving
    Malcolm sounded incredulous, and he felt it too: Who on earth would want to hurt the nuns, or break their windows? The Book of Dust: La Belle Sauvage
    To see more usage examples of "incredulous," click here.
    To learn more about the commonly confused words "incredible" and "incredulous," click here.
  10. medal
    an award for winning a championship
    At the end of the season, we captured the bronze medal at the World Championships in Budapest, Hungary. Proud
    To see more usage examples of "medal," click here.
    To learn more about the commonly confused words "medal," "meddle" and "mettle," click here.
  11. meddle
    intrude in other people's affairs or business
    It was a bit late to repair the damage, but Harry swore to himself not to meddle in things that weren’t his business from now on. Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone
    To see more usage examples of "meddle," click here.
    To learn more about the commonly confused words "medal," "meddle" and "mettle," click here.
  12. mettle
    the courage to carry on
    “Very well, my arrogant young adventurer. Why not test your courage? Every explorer deserves a chance to prove his mettle.” Fablehaven
    To see more usage examples of "mettle," click here.
    To learn more about the commonly confused words "medal," "meddle" and "mettle," click here.
  13. persecute
    cause to suffer
    With complete control of the country in his hands, Hitler began persecuting German Jews, stripping them of their legal rights, kicking them out of universities and government jobs. Bomb
    To see more usage examples of "persecute," click here.
    To learn more about the commonly confused words "persecute" and "prosecute," click here.
  14. prosecute
    conduct legal proceedings against a defendant
    Some states have no minimum age for prosecuting children as adults; we’ve sent a quarter million kids to adult jails and prisons to serve long prison terms, some under the age of twelve. Just Mercy
    To see more usage examples of "prosecute," click here.
    To learn more about the commonly confused words "persecute" and "prosecute," click here.
  15. respectfully
    in a courteous and considerate manner
    But when the campers saw him they all stood and bowed respectfully. The Lightning Thief
    To see more usage examples of "respectfully," click here.
    To learn more about the commonly confused words "respectfully" and "respectively," click here.
  16. respectively
    in the order given
    The first three—Yudhistira, Arjuna, and Bhima—were the sons of the god of death, the god of the heavens, and the god of the wind, respectively. Aru Shah and the End of Time
    To see more usage examples of "respectively," click here.
    To learn more about the commonly confused words "respectfully" and "respectively," click here.
  17. broach
    bring up a topic for discussion
    I never broach the subjects I long to bring out into the open. The Diary of a Young Girl
    To see more usage examples of "broach," click here.
    To learn more about the commonly confused words "broach" and "brooch," click here.
  18. brooch
    a decorative pin
    His hair, the same silver-blond as hers, had been pulled back tightly behind his head and fastened with a dragonbone brooch. A Game of Thrones
    To see more usage examples of "brooch," click here.
    To learn more about the commonly confused words "broach" and "brooch," click here.
  19. abhorrent
    offensive to the mind
    But a son who killed his mother was abhorrent to gods and to men. Mythology: Timeless Tales of Gods and Heroes
    To see more usage examples of "abhorrent," click here.
    To learn more about the commonly confused words "abhorrent" and "aberrant," click here.
  20. aberrant
    markedly different from an accepted norm
    On a world level, the eruption at the Norte Chico was improbable, even aberrant. 1491
    To see more usage examples of "aberrant," click here.
    To learn more about the commonly confused words "abhorrent" and "aberrant," click here.
Created on Wed Jan 03 17:43:27 EST 2024 (updated Mon Mar 04 09:36:00 EST 2024)

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