| Damage vs harm damage (physical) / harm (general) | damage = physical injury to things; harm = negative effect on people/things (broader) | The flood damaged the building. Pollution harms public health. |
| Famous vs notorious renowned (positive) / infamous (negative) | famous = widely known (neutral/positive); notorious = widely known for something bad | She is famous for her research. He is notorious for his fraud. |
| Claim vs assert allege (claim) / maintain (assert) | claim = state without proof (may be disputed); assert = state firmly, with confidence | He claims he was there, but she asserts that he was not. |
| Prevent vs avoid forestall (prevent) / evade (avoid) | prevent = stop something happening (active); avoid = stay away from or not do (passive) | Vaccination prevents disease. He avoided the question entirely. |
| Infer vs imply deduce (infer) / suggest (imply) | infer = draw a conclusion from evidence (reader/listener does this); imply = suggest without stating (speaker/writer does this) | She implied he was lying; I inferred she was angry. |
| Comprise vs compose consist of (comprise) / make up (compose) | the whole comprises the parts; the parts compose the whole | The committee comprises twelve members. Twelve members compose the committee. |
| Continuous vs continual unbroken (continuous) / recurring (continual) | continuous = without interruption; continual = repeated regularly but with breaks | Continuous noise is exhausting. Continual interruptions are frustrating. |
| Less vs fewer less amount / fewer number | less = uncountable nouns (amount); fewer = countable nouns (number) | Less water was used. Fewer students attended. |
| Disinterested vs uninterested impartial (disinterested) / indifferent (uninterested) | disinterested = impartial, no personal stake; uninterested = not interested, bored | A disinterested judge is fair. An uninterested judge is dangerous for different reasons. |
| Economic vs economical financial (economic) / thrifty (economical) | economic = relating to the economy; economical = not wasteful, cost-effective | The economic crisis was severe. The solution was economical and efficient. |
| Alternate vs alternative every other (alternate) / substitute (alternative) | alternate = every other one (adj) or take turns (verb); alternative = another option | They work on alternate days. An alternative approach was proposed. |
| Principal vs principle main (principal) / rule / belief (principle) | principal (adj/noun) = main, or head of school; principle (noun) = fundamental rule or belief | The principal reason is cost. The report’s principles are sound. |