Paronyms and Homonyms Beginning With C

Paronyms and Homonyms : - Confusion is often caused in understanding the meanings of certain words because they are either similar in meaning and form or similar in their sound of pronunciation. The words which are different in meaning or use but are similar in form or derivations are called Paronyms. On the other hand Homonyms are similar in their sound pronunciation but different in meaning They are also called Homophones (different in spelling and meaning but pronounced alike). In Modern English Paronyms and Homonyms (Homophones) are not much distinguished.

1. Caste : - (class of society) In ancient times people were divided into different castes according to the work they did.

    Cast : - (throw) We cast away old clothes and buy new ones.

    Cost : - (price) The cost of living has risen a lot.

2. Childlike : - (simple, innocent as a child) Her childlike face has won over many hearts.

    Childish : - (silly) No body likes him for his childish habits.

3. Canvass : - (propagate) Because of approaching elections people are canvassing for their candidates.

   Canvas : - (rough cloth) While jogging he always wears canvas shoes.

4. Cite : - (to quote) The advocate cited many examples to prove his case.

   Site : - (place) It is a very spacious site for constructing a nursing home.

   Sight : - (scenery, vision) The mutilated body of a child was a ghastly sight.

5. Continuous : - (without break) He has been sleeping for an hour continuously.

    Continual : - (continuity with break) It has been drizzling continually since last night.

6. Cemetery : - (burial place) The dead body was taken to the cemetry for burial.

   Symmetry : - (quality of harmony or balance in size and design) The building looks exquisite only because of its remarkable symmetry.

7. Career : - (vocation, profession) If we want to make a good career we must work.

    Carrier : - (that one carries) The goods were taken to the destination on public carrier.

8. Confident : -  (certain, sure) I am very confident of my friend's success in the interview.

   Confidant : - (one who shares a secret) Once his confidant, now Dinesh is the arch enemy of his mentor.

9. Compliment : - (regards) I complimented my friend on her success.

   Complement : - (that completes) Both husband and wife are complement to each other.

10. Cannon : - (big gun) Hundreds of cannons were shot in the battlefield.

     Canon : - (principle, a law) Canons of any religion are not easy to follow.

11. Creditable : - (praiseworthy ) It is really creditable for a village boy to have topped the university.

     Credible : - (believable) Your excuse is not credible.

     Credulous : - (simple, artless) Children are credulous by nature.

12. Coma : - (state of unconsciousness) After the accident, my friend had been in state of coma for several hours.

     Comma : - (a mark of punctuation) Comma is a very important part of  learning punctuation.

13. Corporal : - (physical) In our school the children are not given corporal punishment.

     Corporeal : -  (having body, material) Ghosts are not corporeal beings.

14. Comprehensive : - (exhaustive, extensive) Comprehensive steps have been take to  meet with unforeseen emergency.

     Comprehensible : - (understandable) The talk of the new student in our class not comprehensible to us at all.

15. Contagious : - (that spreads by contact) Small pox is a contagious disease.

     Contiguous : - (adjacent) New Delhi and Noida are contiguous.

16. Censure : - (blame, criticize) Censure motion tabled by the opposition fell through

      Censor : - (examination of films and plays) The film The Bandit Queen' has  not been approved of by the censor board.

17. Collision : - [striking against (face to face)] Due to heavy fog the car met with a collision.

     Collusion : - (nexus) There was a collusion between the smugglers and the political leaders."

18. Contemptible : - (deserving contempt) The conduct of the taxi driver was highly mean and contemptible.

      Contemptuous : - (expressing contempt) She dismissed the servant with contemptuous gesture.

19. Considerable : - (large, to great extent) The industrialist spent considerable amount of money to uplift the living conditions of his workers.

      Considerate : - (thoughtful of others) He is beneficent and considerate to his subordinates.

20. Ceremonious : - (formal) One should not be very ceremonious in the marriage of daughters.

      Ceremonial : - (of ceremony) I could not attend the ceremonial function of his marriage.

21. Complaisant : - (pleasing, obliging) He is popular with his friends on account of his complaisant nature.

      Complacent : - (self satisfied) Most of the students of my class are complacent in their outlook and will not revolt against the principal.

22. Conscious : - (aware) We should always be conscious of what is going on around the world.

     Conscience : - (inner voice) 1 always act according to my conscience.

     Consensus : - (general agreement) Government should be run by consensus.

     Conscientious : - (honest, scrupulous) Being a conscientious worker he never shirks work.

23. Coherent : - (intelligible) She was so nervous that her words were not coherent.

     Inherent : - (inborn quality) Sincerity is inherent in her character.

24. Collaborate : - (Work together) Indian industries are compelled to collaborate with multinational companies for survival.

     Corroborate : - (confirm) The principal corroborated the teacher's statement made to the police.

25. Casual : - (occasional) He is on casual leave today.

     Causal : - (relating to cause) There is definite causal relationship between population and poverty.

26. Council : - (an assembly) The legislative council has passed the Bill.

     Counsel : - (advice) His counsel proved very beneficial in the end.

27. Councillor : - (member of council) He is a councillor of the Legislative Council.

      Counsellor : - (adviser) I have engaged a noted counsellor to defend my case.

28. Corpse : - (dead body) A mutilated corpse was found in a locked house.

      Corps : - (body of troops) He is serving in Army Ordnance Corps.

     Carcass  : - (dead body of animal) A carcass of a dog was lying in the road.

29. Coarse : - (rough) Though he is quite rich, he wears coarse clothes.

      Course : - (line of action) He has given up immoral course of life.

30. Century : - (one hundred) Twentieth century will be known as the age of science.

      Centenary : - (100th anniversary) Centenary of Indian National Movement was celebrated in 1985 AD.

31. Conservation : - (preservation) Conservation of forests is very important for our survival.

      Conservatism : - (orthodox ideas) I am quite liberal and do not believe in conservatism.

32. Conform : - (adhere to) You must conform to the rules laid down by your company.  

      Confirm : - (ratify) I shall confirm my programme tomorrow.

33. Capacity : - (ability to contain) The hall has a seating capacity for five hundred students.

     Capability : - (Power of doing things) My friend has capability to do any difficult task

34. Commonplace : - (ordinary, usual) We are fed up with the commonplace of our leaders.

     Common place : - (place for all) The street is a common place for everyone.

35. Commandeer : -  (seize for military purpose) When martial law was imposed in  Pakistan huge area of vacant land was commandeered building air strip.

     Commander  : - (one who commands) The commander of the army ordered soldiers to capture the fort.

Illustration :  Choose the correct word from the bracket.

Please  _____________ my clothes.    (calendar/calender)

Answer : - Calender

Illustration : Choose the correct word from the bracket.

He is on _________________ leave.       (casual/causal)

Answer : - Casual