PARONYMS
Paronym: A word which is similar in form of derivation but different in meaning is known as a paronym.
A list of very familiar paronyms is given in this chapter.
1. Abject – Object
Abject = hopeless
Ex: Many people are living in abject poverty.
Object = aim
Ex: My main object in life is to become a writer.
2. Allowed – Aloud
Allowed = gave permission
Ex: We were allowed to use the telephone in the office.
Aloud = in a kind voice
Ex: She talked aloud in the library.
3. Adjacent – Adjoining
Adjacent = lying near or adjoining
Ex: My house is adjacent to a cinema theatre.
Adjoining = next
Ex: The post office adjoins the main road.
4. Admittance – Admission
Admittance = being admitted to a place
Ex: I got admittance into the managing director's chamber.
Admission = being admitted into an academic institution
Ex: She got admission into the college for a three-year computer course.
5. Alternate – Alternative
Alternate = one after another
Ex: The day is alternated by night.
Alternative = the other choice of the two
Ex: There is no alternative to hard work.
6. Ancient – Antiqueted
Ancient = old in time
Ex: I am very interested in ancient Benin literature.
Antiquated = old in fashion
Ex: The Aryans are antiquated people.
7. Artist – Artiste – Artisan
Artist = an expect in fine arts
Ex: Victor is a great artist.
Artiste = an actor by profession
Ex: Anayo is a popular film artiste.
Artisan = a person who practises some handicrafts
Ex: My uncle is an experienced artisan.
8. Beneficial – Beneficent
Beneficial = useful
Ex: Book-reading is very beneficial to students.
Beneficent = kind
Ex: Mother Theresa was a beneficent woman.
9. Childlike – Childish
Childlike = simple and innocent
Ex: Amina has a childlike face.
Childish = Foolish
Ex: I am fed up with Kayode's childish behavior.
10. Clearance – Clearness
Clearance = clearing up, permission
Ex: My father gave clearance to my marriage.
The clearance of the police from our community gave us a great relief.
Clearness = Clarity, unambiguousness
Ex: The writer has no clearness in his expression.
11. Confident – Confidant
Confident = a feeling of confidence
Ex: I am confident of getting recognition as a writer.
Confident = a person who is trusted with private affairs
Ex: Ugochi is my confident in life.
12. Continuous – Continual
Continuous = uninterrupted in a particular action
Ex: The continuous overwork affected my health.
Continual = without intermission
Ex: The continual heavy rain flooded the streets with mud and water.
13. Corporal – Corporeal
Corporal = bodily, physically
Ex: Many countries have abolished corporal punishment.
Corporeal = material, tangible
Ex: it is very foolish to run after corporeal pleasures.
14. Imaginary – Imaginative
Imaginary = unreal
Ex: I wrote an imaginary love story.
Imaginative = creative
Ex: john Keats is a great imaginative poet.
15. Industrial – industrious
Industrial = relating to industry
Ex: Nigeria has achieved tremendous industrial progress.
Industrious = hard working
Ex: Ugochi is an industrious girl.
16. Judicial – Judicious
Judicial = relating to justice
Ex: The criminal was kept under judicial custody.
Judicious = prudent
Ex: We must be judicious in selecting a right type of course while applying to a college.
17. Memorable –Memorial
Memorable = worthy of being remembered
Ex: Abba's entry into my life is a memorable Incident.
Memorial = a symbol or stature or building erected to remind people of an event or a person
Ex: The government proposed to erect a memorial of Sam.
18. Sensitive – Sensible
Sensitive = easily affected, emotional
Ex: Wordsworth was a sensitive poet.
Sensible = reasonable
Ex: I am always sensible in dealing with people.
19. Sociable – Social
Sociable = friendly
Ex: Abba is a sociable woman.
Social = relating to society
Ex: I am very interested in studying social science.
We must work hard to combat evils.
20. Popular – Populous
Popular = famous
Ex: Bala Usman is a popular playback singer.
Populous = crowded
Ex: China is a populous country.
21. Amiable – Amicable
Amiable = lovable
Ex: I like Bilkis amiable qualities.
Amicable = friendly
Ex: The two countries have come to an amicable agreement.
22. Artful – Artificial – Artistic
Artful = cunning or clever
Ex: I dislike his artful nature.
Artificial = unnatural, not real
Ex: I was not impressed with the artificial language of the author.
Artistic = having artistic qualities
Ex: Harry Benson is an artistic film director.
23. Beside – Besides
Beside = by the side of
Ex: I set beside Abba in the theatre.
Besides = by the side of
Ex: I teach English besides Mathematics.
24. Ceremonious – Caremonial
Ceremonious = observing formalities
Ex: The president's speech was very ceremonious.
Ceremonial = observing formaties
Ex: The president's speech was very ceremonious.
Ceremonial = associated with a ceremony
Ex: I found the surgeon in ceremonial dress.
25. Comprehensive – Comprehensible
Comprehensive = exhaustive
Ex: I have tried to give a comprehensive list of prepositions in my grammar book.
Comprehensible = understandable
Ex: The poetess spoke to the audience in a comprehensible way on the atrocities committed by men or woman.
26. Destination – Destiny
Destination = goal
Ex: We reached our destination in the evening.
Destiny = fate
Ex: Her mother is to decide the destiny of padma.
27. Estimate – Estimation –Esteem
Estimate = calculation
Ex: The estimate of the project is not finalised.
Estimation = opinion
Ex: In my estimation, Maryam is the most brilliant girl I have ever known.
Esteem = respect
Ex: I have great esteem for Mother Theresa.
28. Graceful – Gracious
Graceful = full of grace or attraction
Ex: Maryam is very graceful.
Gracious = full of kindness and compassion
Ex: My mother is a gracious woman.
29. Luxurious – Luxuriant
Luxurious = comfortable or lavish or full of luxury
Ex: Bukola wanted to lead a luxurious life.
Luxuriant = rich in growth
Ex: The luxuriant production of television sets ruined the company completely.
30. Momentary – Momentous
Momentary = lasting for a moment, temporary
Ex: Life is a momentary thing.
Momentous = very important, significant
Ex: The French Revolution is a momentous occasion in the history of France.
31. Official – Officious
Official = pertaining to an office
Ex: He is engaged in his official work.
Officious = eager to offer service or help
Ex: Mr. Badamasi has been very officious to me.
32. Acceptance – Acceptation
Acceptance = an act of accepting something
Ex: She requested me to send a reply of my acceptance to her invitation.
Acceptation = generally recognized meaning
Ex: I don't know the acceptation of the word used by the author.
33. Barbarism – Barbarity
Barbarism = uncivilised conditions
Ex: We still find barbarism in many parts of developing countries.
Barbarity = cruelty
Ex: Some tribal people are notorious for their barbarity.
34. Completeness – Completion
Completeness = perfection
Ex: None of us can achieve completeness in our field of study.
Completion = the act of ending or finishing
Ex: I always feel happy at the completion of every new task.
35. Contemptible – Contemptuous
Contemptible = deserving contempt
Ex: Susan's behavior is very much contemptible.
Contemptuous = hateful, disdainful
Ex: I am contemptuous of my friend's dishonesty.
36. Considerable – Considerate
Considerable = moderately large
Ex: I have gained considerable knowledge of English.
Considerate = thoughtful
Ex: My friend has been considerate to me.
37. Dependence – Dependency
Dependence = reliance
Ex: I dislike dependence on others for help.
Dependency = a subject country
Ex: Ghana was a dependency of England for sometime in the pas.
38. Disinterested – Uninterested
Disinterested = unselfish
Ex: He is a disinterested judge and so everybody in the court likes him very much.
Uninterested = indifferent, having no interest
Ex: I am uninterested in philosophy.
Distinctness = clearness
Ex: The distinctness of style is very essential for a writer.
Distinction = honour
Ex: Ahmad received the highest distinction in literature.
40. Deliverance – Delivery
Deliverance = emancipation, freedom
Ex: Nigeria got deliverance from the British in 1960.
Delivery = the way of expression; giving of the letter; giving birth to a child
Ex: The delivery of his speech is very excellent.
The delivery of letters by the potman is not regular.
The doctor told us that our sister's delivery would be a little difficult.
41. Device – Devise
Device = method (Noun)
Ex: I have a new device to teach English.
Devise = Invent (Verb)
Ex: Muktar devised a new course in English for beginners.
42. Enviable – Envious
Enviable = that can be envied
Ex: Bukola's personality is enviable and so Titi is naturally jealous of her.
Envious = feeling envy
Ex: My friend is envious of my progress in education.
43. Effective – Effectual – Efficacious
Effective = Powerful
Ex: My teaching is always effective.
Effectual = having desired effect
Ex: The party's election manifesto is very effectual.
Efficacious = sure to have expected result
Ex: This medicine is very efficacious for chest pain.
44. Egotist – Egoist
Egotist = a person who tells about himself
Ex: My friend Mr. Abdul is an egotist.
Egoist = a person who is interested in himself
Ex: I sometimes feel like an egoist.
I dislike my brother because he is completely an egoist.
45. Elemental – Elementary
Elemental = pertaining to elements
Ex: Man has tried to control element powers.
Elementary = rudimentary, introductory
Ex: My friend has gained elementary knowledge of Mathematics.
46. Exposure – Exposition
Exposure = being exposed to air and cold
Ex: Several people are left exposed to poverty and illiteracy.
Exposition = explanation
Ex: My sister's exposition of women problems impressed me.
47. Economic – Economical
Economic = relating to economics
Ex: No political party has tried to improve the economic conditions of our country.
Economical = Inexpensive
Ex: I appreciate the economical ways of my brother.
48. Funeral – Funereal
Funeral = burial profession or Care mony
Ex: I attended the funeral ceremony of my uncle.
Funereal = gloomy
Ex: Bukola looked funeral yesterday.
49. Formalism – Formality
Formalism = habitual observance of rules
Ex: I dislike formalism in religion and society.
Ex: The official formality in administration obstructs the progress of our country.
50. Fatal – Fateful – Fatalist
Fatal = that ends in death
Ex: He had a fetal accident.
Fateful = important, something that produces produces some result
Ex: The entry of the British into our country is a fateful event in Nigeria history.
Fatelist = a person who believes in fate
Ex: My uncle is a fatelist by nature.
51. Festal – Festive
Festal = pertaining to a festival or feast
Ex: People appear with colorful dresses on festal occasions.
Festive = joyous, happy
Ex: I was festive yesterday.
52. Forceful – Forcible
Forceful = effective
Ex: Amina convinced me of the matter with her forceful arguments.
Forcible = by force
Ex: The forcible entry of the crowd into the manager's chamber created havoc in the office.
53. Health – Healthy
Health = a state of being well in body and mind
Ex: She is keeping a bad health.
Healthy = Promoting good health
Ex: Education should be imparted to students in healthy conditions.
54. Honorary – Honorable
Honorary = an office without remuneration
Ex: He is the honorary director of the company.
Honorable = worthy of honour
Ex: Mother Theresa was the most Honorable woman in the world.
55. Historic – Historical
Historic = important, momentous
Ex: 1960 remains a his historic year in the history of Nigeria.
Historical = pertaining to history
Ex: I visited all historical places in Nigeria.
56. Intelligent – Intelligible
Intelligent = wise, clever
Ex: Bukola is an intelligent girl.
Intelligible = understandable
Ex: Her writing is intelligible to me.
57. Lovable – Lovely
Lovable = worthy of love
Ex: Bukola has a lovable personality.
Lovely = attractive and beautiful
Ex: Ummi is a lovely girl.
58. Limit – Limitation
Limit = boundary
Ex: There is no limit to knowledge.
Limitation = restriction or obstacle
Ex: There are several limitations to the success of democracy in developing countries.
59. Necessary – Necessities
Necessaries = essential things
Ex: All political leaders promise the people to provide them with the necessaries.
Necessities = Urgent needs
Ex: A doctor must keep with him the medical necessities.
60. Negligent – Neglectful – Negligible
Negligent = careless in his duties or things
Ex: He is negligent in his duties.
Neglectful = careless as a matter of habit
Ex: He is neglectful of posting the letters.
Negligible = that can be ignored
Ex: Bukola's rude behavior is negligible because she is a minor.
61. Observance – Observation
Observance = practice
Ex: The observance of displine brings success in life.
Observation = the power of keenness
Ex: I have keen observation about the life of tribal people in ikpeba valley.
62. practical – practicable
Practical = realistic
Ex: I am always very practice toward life.
Practicable = capable of being practised
Ex: I found her plans practicable and interesting.
63. Pitiable – Pitiful – Piteous
Pitiable = arousing pity
Ex: I took sympathy on her pitiable condition.
Pitiful = feeling pity
Ex: I was pitiful at Nkila's death.
Piteous = full of pity, sad
Ex: I heard the piteous cries of the patients in the hospital.
64. Prophecy – Prophecy
Prophecy = a forecast or prediction (Noun)
Ex: My prophecy about her marriage came true.
Prophesy = foretell (Verb)
Ex: I prophesied that she will be successful.
65. Respectable – Respectful – Respective
Respective = deserving respect
Ex: Mother Theresa's service to the poor was respectable.
Respectful = showing respect
Ex: We stood at a respectful distance from the alter
Respective = particular or specific
Ex: All the members were seated in their respective chairs.
66. Righteous – Rightful
Righteous = just
Ex: The righteous people always succeed in life.
Rightful = having a just and legal claim
Ex: She is the rightful owner of the house.
67. Regretful – Regrettable
Regretful = full of regret and sadness
Ex: I am regretful at her father's death.
Regrettable = causing regret
Ex: it is regrettable that she has not realised her foolishness.
68. Sensual – Sensuous
Sensual = used in bad sense
Sensuous = used in good sense
Ex: John Keats is a sensuous poet.
69. Signification – Significance
Signification = meaning
Ex: Many words in English have acquired a new signification.
Significance = importance, value
Ex: Most, Nigerians disregard the significance of women education.
70. Spiritual – Spirituous
Spiritual = pertaining to soul or spirit or devotional
Ex: The preacher attached much importance to spiritual Knowledge.
Spirituous = alcoholic
Ex: All spirituous drinks must be banned in schools.
Spirituous drinks spoil our health.
71. Tolerable – Tolerant
Tolerable = that can be tolerated
Ex: Indiscipline can be tolerable to a certain extent.
Tolerant = having tolerance
Ex: Nigerians are tolerant of other religions.
72. Temperance – Temperament
Temperance = moderation
Ex: We should maintain temperance in food.
Temperament = disposition
Ex: I was disguised with Susan's bad temperament.
73. Temporary – Temporal
Temporary = short lived
Ex: life is a temporary thing.
Temporal = physical
Ex: My uncle ignored all his temporal pleasures.
74. Unmoral – Immoral
Unmoral = having no regard for morals
Ex: All our politicians are unmoral because they can do anything for power.
Immoral = dishonest
Ex: She lead an immoral life.
75. Union – Unison – Unity
Union = act of uniting
Ex: I got membership to the trade union
Union is strength.
Unison = agreement of sounds or voices
Ex: All sang the national anthem in unison.
Unity = oneness
Ex: We find unity in diversity in Nigeria.
76. Virtual – Virtuous
Virtual = real
Ex: The president is the virtual head of the state.
Virtuous = blameless, righteous
Ex: My mother is a virtuous woman.
77. Willing – Willful
Willing = ready, desirous
Ex: Nikola is willing to marry Dayo.
Wilful = deliberate
Ex: The accident was wilful.
78. Wait – Await
Wait = to wait for someone (intransitive Verb)
Ex: I waited for Maryam.
Await = to wait for something
Ex: I awaited the result of the exam.
79. Womanly – Womanish
Womanly = kind and affectionate
Ex: I liked the womanly love and affection of Maryam.
Womanish = week and cowardly (often used in bad sense)
Ex: I hate my friend's womanish habits.
80. Vocation – Avocation – Vacation
Vocation = chief occupation or profession
Ex: My vocation is teaching.
Avocation = hobby
Ex: Writing to magazines is my avocation.
Vacation = holidays
Ex: I want to spend my vacation in Kaduna.
81. Transient – Transitory
Transient = short – lived
Ex: Life is transient by nature.
Transitory = worldly, temporary
Ex: We are living in a transitory world.
82. Speciality – Specialty
Speciality = striking quality
Ex: What is the specialty of your teaching?
Specialty = specific pursuit or skill
Ex: Her specialty is African style of dance.
83. Servitude – Servility
Servitude = the state of slavery
Ex: it is very horrible to live in total servitude.
Servility = a sense of servitude
Ex: The servility of woman proves very dangerous to their existence and honour.
84. Reverend – Reverent
Reverend = a sense of honour applicable to persons only
Ex: I met the reverend father of the local church the other day.
Reverent = a sense of reverence, applicable to persons and things.
Ex: We must be reverent to the president who preaches universal love and tolerance.
85. Proportional – Proportionate
Proportional = in due proportion
Ex: We do not find the proportionate to your hard work.
86. Politic – Political
Politic = wise, prudent, sagacious
Ex: Your decision to resign the job is not politic.
Political = pertaining to politics
Ex: The author discussed various political problems very eeffectively.
87. Provident – Providential
Provident = having foresight
Ex: My mother is provident in her thoughts.
Providential = divine
Ex: We have to submit to the providential judgment.
88. Prudent – Prudential
Prudent = wise, clever, intelligent
Ex: My uncle is very prudent in his plans and proposals.
Prudential = ideas or plans with prudence
Ex: I appreciated the prudential plans of my friend.
89. Especial – Special
Especial = exceptional
Ex: My mother has an especial kindness and love for the poor.
Special = particular or specific
Ex: This medicine must be used in special cases only.
90. Decided – Decisive
Decided = several or sundry
Ex: Amina's decided opinion is that she wants to become an air hostess.
Decisive = something that settle a matter or controversy
Ex: In the court of law the decision of the judge is decisive.
91. Divers – Diverse
Divers = several or sundry
Ex: Divers counties participated in the seminar.
Diverse = markedly different
Ex: My mother's view about dowry problem are diverse from mine.
92. Complacent – Complainant
Complacent = pleased, well-satisfied
Ex: Traders are complacent by nature.
Complaisant = polite
Ex: My mother is a complaisant woman.
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