Here are a few more fine distinctions from the 1922 pamphlet S.O.S. Slips of Speech by Frank H. Vizetelly, Litt.D., L.L.D.
1. Hypercritical/Hypocritical
Hypercritical means overly or excessively critical.
Hypocritical signifies deceptive, sham, for hypocrisy is false pretense
2. Idea/Opinion
Idea implies something undetermined in the mind;
Opinion is formed after deduction or reflection and therefore is determi
3. Idleness/Laziness
These words are not synonymous.
Idleness describes the state of one given to empty, vain or useless effort. It does not mean inaction, but the absence of efficient action, and in that it differs from laziness, which is indisposition to exertion, indolence or a state of sluggish inactivity. When Ruskin wrote “God dislikes idle people more than any other, he had in mind the butterflies and drones of society, those useless creatures, court butterflies, who trifle away the light of their youth in idle, useless gaiety.
4. Implicate/Involve
These words are not synonymous.
One is implicated who has taken part in some transaction. The word is used usually to indicate entanglement in some malicious or evil transaction. Involve does not imply malice or evil, but embarrassment, perplexity or deep concern. A criminal is implicated in a crime; a business man is involved in debt.
5. Imputation/Impute/Ascribe
These words should be carefully distinguished. We impute when we assign or attribute something usually evil or wrong to one, and ascribe when we attribute something usually good to another. Imputation implies censure or reproach. An upright man cannot bear the slightest imputation on his character… To the bounty of God we ascribe the success of our enterprises.
6. Labor/Toil/Work
Labor is sometimes erroneously restricted to physical toil.. Properly, labor may be physical or mental but must be for some useful end. Toil signifies oppressive or harassing labor, or hard continuous work that taxes the bodily strength or mental powers.
7. Liable/Likely
Liable is used chiefly with regard to answering the consequences of an act that is likely to be the cause of trouble; as “the arrest of one who exceeds the speed limit is likely, and may render him liable to a fine
8. Lurid/Livid
This word is frequently misused. That which is lurid gives a ghastly yellowish red light, as flames mingled with smoke, by extension, giving uncertain or unearthly light of any kind; as “lurid flashes of lightning”
.
Distinguish it from livid which means black and blue, ashen or lead-colored.
A lurid story is a ghastly “yellowish” story of the sensational type. The word means also, pale, wan, sallow, and figuratively, gloomy, ghastly, and not a suggestive or an immodest one.
9. Malign/Malignant
As a verb, the first designates the act of one who calumniates, defames, traduces, or vilifies another. As an adjective, it characterizes the act of a pernicious person. Malignant describes one possessed of extreme malevolence; hence, virulent, that is, venomous or extremely poisonous. To malign a d defenseless person and so seek to deprive her of a means of obtaining employment, is the act of a fiend and renders one amenable to the law. A malignant ulcer may cause death.
10.Manly/Mannish
These words are not synonymous. The first signifies of or becoming to a man; man-like; also, manfully. The second means masculine; suitable to a man. We characterize a brave and courageous man as manly and a woman’s masculine attire as mannish.
Are there other sets of words that confound you? Write to me at lizd@worktalk.com and I will explore the distinctions.