Confusing Words Clarified: Group R; Homonyms, Homophones, Homographs, Synonyms, Polysemes, etc. +
(lists of "R" sections that are organized into what for some people are confusing groups of words)
If you have any problems understanding the pronunciation symbols, go to this Pronunciation Chart for clarifications.
2. Someone who is regarded as mean or despicable: The hermit was perceived as an unwashed wretch by the people who lived nearby.
Jesse feels like a wretch this morning because he was ill last night and had to retch several times.
2. Regarding an individual who is restrained or reserved in style; reluctant; unwilling: Audry's friend was reticent to help out during the harvest season on the farm because of an injured hand.
Curtis is reticent about discussing his past life.
The taciturn farmer was reticent to help the new neighbor drill a new well.
It was difficult for Chad to respond to reveille this morning after having participated in the revelry last night.
2. To engage in uproarious festivities; to make merry: Over the holidays, Shawn plans to revel with his family with Christmas cakes and eggnog.
Phil went to the neighbors in a mood to revile them for the loud party music; however, he ended up staying to revel in the festivities with them.
2. A careful re-examination of something, typically of a judicial nature: The local judge agreed that a review of the decision of the previous court's findings was in order.
3. A magazine or an essay the purpose of which is to provide a critique of a publication, movie, essay, etc.: Alisa wrote a review of the play that she saw the night before and sent it to her newspaper editor.
The review published a positive review of the theatrical revue playing at the university.
The children played in the room next to the kitchen.
2. The possibility of something happening or existing: There is considerable room for improvement as Alice revises the content of her writing project.The room was cold and drafty resulting in Mable coming down with an illness that caused a lot of rheum in her nose and eyes.
2. A British colonial financier and statesman in South Africa who made a fortune in gold and diamond mining: Cecil Rhodes used some of his wealth to establish scholarships for students to study at Oxford University.
During her vacation, Stefanie noticed that the roads on Rhodes had been recently paved.
Why do they persist in being such a rum lot?
2. Music for this kind of Cuban dance or in this style: The band tried playing the rumba for the guests, but they only wanted to listen to waltzes instead.
The cruise ship's officers noticed by the rhumb of the compass that they were near the island where they made rum. The ship stopped and the passengers went ashore and found a restaurant where they had a drink and watched the dancers performing the rumba.
"It is the time for the rime to form on thine windows." How clever of Trudy, she wrote a rhyme.
2. Someone or something which is difficult to understand or to solve: Russell was constantly finding one riddle after another as he examined the history of science.
2. To fill something that is bad or unpleasant: It is obvious that the author did indeed riddle his book with one error after another.
Did the author riddle his riddle with irrational suggestions?
Well, Jacob is convinced that the solution to the riddle had one riddle after another one which resulted in too many false clues.
Here is an example of a riddle: What comes once in a minute, twice in a moment, but never in a thousand years? The letter "m".
Here's another riddle: What goes around and around the wood but never goes into the wood? The bark of a tree.
2. In geology, a break in the earth's crust: Geologists are still trying to analyze the Mid-Atlantic Rift.
3. A gap or break in something where it has split apart: The buildings are being torn down because of the rift in the ground which is causing rifts in the walls of several of the apartments.
The geologists had a rift over the geological explanation for the seismic rift on the fault line crossing the desert.
2. Anyone who manipulates the outcome of an event; such as, an election: The underground boss was found to be the rigger of the census results after an investigation by officials.
3. A slender paint brush typically made of sable: For Cleo's art work, she used a rigger to create the fine points in her paintings.
2. Conditions that make life and subsistence difficult: The rigor of the arctic winters made the expedition's tasks harder to achieve.
3. The quality or state of being very exact, careful, or strict: The students conducted the experiments with scientific rigor because they were being guided by a scholar known for her intellectual rigor.
4. Stiffness of tissue that prevents response to stimuli: There was a rigor in the patient's arm that made it difficult for the doctor to examine her.
When Patricia ordered the arctic camping equipment from the local rigger, he warned her about the rigor and dangers that might be a part of her arctic explorations.
Camille gave Alisha the right, or accurate, directions to the local store.
Earl did the right and proper thing when he told the woman that she dropped her billfold out of her purse while she was walking in the store.
2. Situated on the side of the body that is opposite to left side: Daniel raised his right hand to take the oath of allegiance.2. Property ownership, often used in the plural: Karin owned the mineral right, or mineral rights, in the remote mountain region.
Antonio bought the right to use the film of the new novel based on the reputation of the author.
3. Often capitalized, to designate a political party or individual who is politically conservative: Members of the Right have voiced their opinions on this economic proposal.
2. The prescribed or customary form for conducting a religious or other solemn ceremony: Incense is often burned in this religious rite.
The opening rite for the summer solstice was very elaborate.
2. To form letters, words, or symbols on a surface like paper with an instrument; such as, a pen, a pencil, a typewriter, etc.: Stanley's daily rite was to write in his journal and so it was easy for him to compose a blog with his computer, too.
Marla intends to write a symphony before she is 20 years old.
The author was determined to write his autobiography when he retired.
Vincent tried to write about the playwright who wanted to depict the correct wedding ceremony or the right rite.
A minister of a church was asked if he and his congregation kneel to pray in his church. He responded with, "No, we stand up for our rites."
It was her rite (formal custom) to write so much, but was it right for her to expect her readers to read everything?
Bigamy is the only crime on the books where two rites make a wrong.
Jane mentioned, "If you tap the crystal goblet carefully, you can hear it ring."
2. A circular band often worn on a person's finger; or a circular band used to hold items: Stacy inherited a beautiful ring from her aunt and she wears it every day.Aurora's friend gave her a key ring so she wouldn't lose her keys so often.
3. A square space often used for sporting events: The boxers met in the ring for the boxing competition.2. To encircle: The low mountains ring the green valley.
2. To squeeze or to twist something in order to remove moisture: Janet said, "Dottie, be sure to wring out the dishcloth before hanging it up."
3. To get something out of someone or out of an item or object with a lot of effort: The executive officer tried to wring every last dollar of profit out of the failing company.
Marla will wring out Chad's polishing cloth, and then he will polish the bell so that it will ring loudly and clearly and then he will ring her up when he is done.
2. Someone who looks very much like another person: Philip is a ringer for the president.
Cara is a dead ringer for Trisha's friend Carol.
Jeff was surprised that Mrs. Smith was such a ringer for the woman who used to come to help his mother operate the wringer on her washing machine.
Confusing Words: Homonyms, Homophones, and Homographs; explained and demonstrated.
Confusing Words: Units, Groups A to Z.
Confusing Words: Vocabulary Quizzes Listed.
