Delegate means to assign others to a task. The officials may delegate authority to the appropriate people. Relegate means send or consign to an obscure place or position. After I fell, I was relegated to a backup spot on the team.
Category: Confusing Words
Difference between Degenerate and Deteriorate
Degenerate is a decline in quality or virtue. His latest CD shows a degenerate pattern of poor production. Deteriorate is a weakening or the wearing away of something. The building has weakened and is beginning to deteriorate.
Difference between Defuse and Diffuse
Defuse means to remove a fuse (usually from an explosive). The company hired an explosives expert to defuse the bomb. Diffuse means to spread out. The mouse’s odor diffused throughout the entire house.
Difference between Definite and Definitive
Definite means certain, precise, explicit, or clear. After the game, I had a definite feeling of accomplishment. Definitive means final, decisive, and authoritative. The interested party immediately gave us a definitive answer.
Difference between Deference, Difference and Diffidence
Deference means courteous regard or respect. The young reporter showed deference to the famous anchor. Difference means a distinguishing characteristic or disparity. The difference is in how they present themselves to the public. Diffidence means reserved, shy, or lacking self confidence. Overcoming their diffidence may lead to better opportunities.
Difference between Defective and Deficient
Defective means faulty. The scanner’s defective circuit board can easily be replaced. Deficient means lacking completeness or a key ingredient. Tests proved her diet was deficient in calcium and magnesium.
Difference between De facto and De jure
De facto means actual. The de facto speed limit on a busy afternoon is only 50 m.p.h. De jure means as a matter of law or right. The maximum speed limit, de jure, is 65 m.p.h.
Difference between Deductive and Inductive
Concerning types of reasoning: Deductive means to reason from the general to the specific (top-down approach). All people need water to survive; Bob is a person; Bob needs water to survive. Inductive means to reason from the specific to the general (bottom-up approach). Bob needs water to survive; Bob is a person; all people need water […]
Difference between Decry and Descry
Decry means to openly condemn or ridicule something. The faculty has a right to decry the cuts in the budget. Descry means to see or catch sight of, often from a distance. Some nights you can actually descry the blue whales out at sea.
Difference between Decided, Decisive and Incisive
Decided means clear-cut, unmistakable, or without doubt. This company has a decided advantage over its competitors. Decisive means conclusive. The committee’s decisive action gave our firm an advantage. Incisive means acute, cutting, or sharp. The company lost an incisive mind and an outstanding engineer.
Difference between Decent, Descent and Dissent
Decent means proper or honest. The play’s interpretation was done in a decent manner. Many people consider Rick a thoughtful and decent individual. Descent means a downward slope or family origin. The airplane’s sudden descent alarmed many passengers. When one mentions the descent of man, we think of Darwin. Dissent means disagreement. If the cause […]
Difference between Decadence and Decadents
Decadence means showing low morals and a love for world pleasures. It can also mean being artificial or lacking in quality. The acceptable level of moral decadence has plunged recently. Unfortunately, he exhibited decadence in his dress and manner. Decadents are spoiled people with low morals and a love for worldly pleasures. Some of their […]