Commonly confused words

demur vs. demure demur (disagreement or refusal) He accepted without demur. The students demur to too much homework.   demure (quiet, serious, and well-behaved) She is very demure and sweet. Sometimes you need to be demure.   demur vs. demure – English Vocabulary

delude vs. dilute delude (to make someone believe something that is not true) You shouldn’t delude him into believing it. Stop deluding me.   dilute (make a liquid thinner or less strong) Dilute the paint with a little thinner. Dilute the juice before you drink it.   delude vs. dilute – …

defy vs. deify defy (resist or refuse to obey) Children shouldn’t defy their parents. You might end up in jail if you defy the law.   deify (worship or regard as a god) People in the past deified the sun. They used to deify their leaders.   defy vs. deify …

defuse vs. diffuse defuse (to make something less tense, dangerous, or serious) They should take immediate steps to defuse the crisis. A meeting was held to defuse the situation. (remove the fuse, deactivate) Experts were trying to defuse the bomb. The bomb blew up when he was trying to defuse it.   diffuse (spread …

defer vs. differ defer (to put off a decision or an action to a later time) We have to defer the decision for two months. They would defer payment for as long as possible. differ (be unlike each other, not similar) The two brothers differ in many ways. He and his …