Commonly confused words

turgid vs. turbid

  turgid (swollen) My feet were turgid from walking. formal (boring and difficult to understand) His speech was turgid as ever. I don’t want to read those turgid technical manuals.   turbid (muddy, not clean or clear) After a heavy rain, the river was very turbid. These fish can tolerate turbid waters.   …

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serial vs. cereal

  serial (a story that is broadcast in several separate parts) A new serial is starting on television at 8:30 tonight. (happening or arranged in a series) It passes information in serial form. Keep the pictures in the same serial order.   cereal (a plant grown to produce grain such as …

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naughty vs. knotty

  naughty (badly behaved; not willing to obey) You naughty boy, stop pulling your sister’s hair. The boss treats us all like naughty schoolchildren.   knotty (very difficult to solve or understand) We have faced a lot of knotty problems. That is obviously a knotty question.   envocabulary.com

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soul vs. sole

  soul (spiritual part of a human being, believed to exist after death) God will have mercy on your soul. He claims he can see the souls of the dead.   sole (the flat bottom of the foot or shoe) The hot sand is burning the soles of my feet. …

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soar vs. sore

  soar (to fly or glide high in the air) The plane was soaring upwards. An eagle soared in the sky above us. (to rise or increase quickly) The temperature will soar to above 100 degrees. The price of petrol has soared.   sore (hurting, painful) I can’t lift heavy …

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