Confusing Words - 6

Biannual means occurring twice a year; semi-annual.

Usage Example: The biannual board meeting was just a formality for the board members to meet each other twice in a year.

Biennial means lasting or enduring for two years.

Usage Example: They met after every two years at biennial conventions.

Perennial means perpetual; everlasting; continuing; recurrent.

Usage Example: Beautiful perennial daffodils lined both sides of the avenue.

Bidding means command; summons; invitation.

Usage Example: The beggar was fed at the kitchen door at the old man/s bidding.

Biding means to wait for a favourable opportunity.

Usage Example: He was biding his time to take his revenge.

Bisect means to cut or divide into two equal or nearly equal parts.

Usage Example: Thunderstorm and lightning bisected the tree.

Dissect means make a mathematical, chemical, or grammatical analysis of; break down into components or essential features.

Usage Example: After the crash in the market, the analysts are busy dissecting the market

Bogey means a score of one stroke over par on a hole. This word is used for the game of golf.

Usage Example: After the penalty shot, he putted for a bogey.

Bogy means anything that haunts, frightens, annoys, or harasses, a hobgoblin; evil spirit.

Usage Example: They used a lantern as a bogy to frighten the children.

Breach means a gap made in a wall, fortification, line of soldiers, etc.; rift; fissure, any severance or separation.

Usage Example: The two political parties had a breach due to vested interests.

Breech is the lower, rear part of the trunk of the body,opening in the rear of the barrel of a gun where bullets can be loaded.

Usage Example: They had to load the breech of the gun before firing.

Bridal means of, for, or pertaining to a bride or a wedding.

Usage Example: She wore a sequined bridal dress.

Bridle is a part of the tack or harness of a horse, consisting usually of a headstall, bit, and reins. It can also mean something that curbs or restrains; check

Usage Example: He loosened the bridle and jumped off the horse.

He had to bridle his antagonism at the political gathering.

Broach is an elongated, tapered, serrated cutting tool for shaping and enlarging holes. It is also used as a verb and it means to bring up a topic for discussion

Usage Example: He was called to broach the cask of wine.

He broached the delicate subject with some hesitation.

Brooch is a clasp or ornament having a pin at the back for passing through the clothing and a catch for securing the point of the pin.

Usage Example: She liked to sport her Cartier diamond brooch.

Cabal means a small group of secret plotters, as against a government or person in authority.

Usage Example: The arms dealer offloads the ammunition at the hideout of the underworld cabal.

Cable is a very strong rope made of strands of metal wire, as used to support cable cars or suspension bridges.

Usage Example: He is currently working as a designer in a cable company.

Callous means insensitive; indifferent; unsympathetic.

Usage Example: He became aloof and callous after the tragedy.

Callus means a hardened or thickened part of the skin; a callosity.

Usage Example: Hard physical labor callused his hands and feet.

Cannon means a mounted gun for firing heavy projectiles; a gun, howitzer, or mortar.

Usage Example: The temple was razed to the ground by the cannon fire.

Canon means one of a body of dignitaries or prebendaries attached to a cathedral or a collegiate church; a member of the chapter of a cathedral or a collegiate church.

Canon also means a general rule or standard, as of judgment, morals, etc.

Usage Example: The jury requested the judge to let the trial proceed according to the canons of law

Lose is a verb which means to fail, misplace or be deprived of something.

Usage Example: She lost her wallet at the mall.

Loose is an adjective which indicates that something is ill-fitting or not firm in its place.

Usage Example: Susan was wearing a loose shirt.