Paronyms and Homonyms Beginning With A

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.  Access : - (approach) It is very difficult to have an access to the Prime Minister.

    Accession : - (coming to throne) The accession of the prince to the throne was welcomed by the people.

    Excess : - (more than desired) Excess of everything is bad.

2. Accept : - (to take) The teachers accepted the invitation of the students on the Teacher's Day.

    Except : - (leaving out) Everybody except Rahul was invited to the party.

    Expect : - (hope) I never expected that my friends would desert me in the lurch.

3. Alter : - (change) Mohan is so obstinate that no one can alter his views.

    Altar : - (place of worship) When I visited temple, I saw him kneeling at the altar.

4. Assent : - (agree) I got assent of my father to study in a boarding school.

   Ascent : - (climbing up) The ascent to Kargil hills is very arduous.

5. Adopt : - (take up) One should not adopt the bad habits of others.

    Adapt : - (adjust) One must learn to adapt oneself to the circumstances of life.

    Adept : - (expert) Shruti is adept in the art of dancing.

6. Amicable : - (friendly) Finally the two brothers came to an amicable settlement.

    Amiable : - (lovable, obliging) Being an amiable house wife she is liked by her kith and kin.

7. Accede : - (accept) The director was kind enough to accede to the request of the labourers.

    Exceed : - (surpass) Your essay should not exceed three hundred words.

    Concede : - (agree) The prisoner did not concede to the argument of the jailor.

8. Alteration : - (change) There is no alteration in the programme yet.

   Altercation : - (wordy quarrel) There was altercation between the shop keeper and my brother.

9. Apposite : - (suitable) Her remarks about the character of her friends are quite apposite.

   Opposite : - (contrary) Sita's behaviour is opposite to that of her brother.

10. Affect : - (verb) (to influence, to pretend) Continuous attack of asthma has affected his health.

    Effect : - (noun) (influence) Excessive hard work in life had adverse effect on her health.

11. Allusion : - (reference) The poem is explained properly by the help of many allusions.

     Illusion  : - (unreal) According to the Vedantists life is an illusion.

12. Ail : - (suffer) Rohit is getting weaker day by day, we don't know what ails him.

     Ale : - (intexicating drink) He visits ale house daily even against the advice of doctors.

13. Apprehend : - (fear, perceive, arrest) The soothsayer apprehended the day of Rohit's death.

     Comprehend : - (understand) She could not comprehend the meaning of the passage.

14. Admission : - (to get admitted, acceptance) These days in order to get admission to convent schools you must give a lot of money.

     Admittance : - (entry) No admittance without permission.

15. Antique : - (of ancient times) There are many antique pieces in the museum.

     Antic : - (odd, tricks) Antics of the juggler regaled the children.

16. Alternate : - (by turns) We have a moral science class on every alternate day.

     Alternative : - (one of the two choices) There is no alternative to honesty in dealing with the people.

17. Artful : - (clever) She was able to change the behaviour of her in laws towards her by artful means.

     Artistic : - (pertaining to art) Everybody admires her for artistic temperament.

18. Artist : - (one who practises fine art) He is a frivolous artist

    Artiste : - (performing) There was no security for the artiste, who had come to perform for the charity show.

    Artisan : - (one who does handicraft) The artisans of Moradabad are very skilful.

19. Affection : - (love, kindly feeling) My mother is held in high affection and  respect by all the members of the family.

     Affectation : - (unnatural behaviour. pretence) I always feel vexed affectation.

20. Abstain : - [keep from things (eating, drinking, voting)] We should from drinking.

     Refrain : - (keep from bad habits) You should refrain from telling a lie

21. Avenge: - (just punishment) Hamlet delayed arenging the murder of his father.

    Revenge : - (to punish out of personal grudge) He revenged himself on enemy by abducting his minor child.

22. Adulteration : - (making impure) The owners of the milk dairy were charme with adulteration of milk.

    Adultery : - (having extra marital relations) Her husband accused her adultery and deserted her.

23. Aspersion : - (slander) We should not cast aspersions on our friends.

     Aspiration : - (ambition, desire) You can attain your aspiration only by hard work.

24. Avert : - (to check) A little common sense averted a major mishap.

     Advert : - (refer to) He adverted to the problem of Indian security in his speech.

Illustration :  Choose the correct word from the bracket.

The _________________ to this mountain is not an easy task.    (ascent/assent)

Answer : - Ascent

Illustration : Choose the correct word from the bracket.

She is  _________________ with malaria.       (ailing/aleing)

Answer : - Ailing