Easily Confused Trivia

1. What word, often mispronounced by newscasters, represents drugs like Seconal and Nembutol which act as central nervous system depressants?

From Quiz Misunderstood Words

Answer: barbiturates

One of my pet peeves is the mispronunciation of the word 'barbiturates' (for some reason the second 'r' sound is often omitted). Although in different forms, all of the choices above are drugs which act to calm or decrease brain activity. Alcohol, found in whiskey and other drinks, is the most widely abused. The word narcotic comes from the Greek word "narkotikon" for 'stupor'. Substances included in this category are used to dull the senses, e.g., opium and morphine. Benzodiazepines, including tranquilizers like Valium and Xanax, have now basically replaced barbiturates in the treatment of anxiety and insomnia.

From Quiz Misunderstood Words

Answer: nuclear

Constantly mispronounced, the answer is (noo'-klee-er) as in nucleus, i.e., the center, the core. The nucleus of an atom contains positively charged protons and uncharged neutrons which are used to power the energy released through fission (the nucleus splitting) or fusion (the nuclei joining together). In either case, great amounts of energy are released. This can be a tremendously destructive force (as we have seen with the hydrogen bomb) or a power which can generate heat and electricity to light the world.

From Quiz Words Easily Confused

Answer: Easily willing to please others

Actually, the meanings are not completely unrelated, one referring to a sense of self-pleasure, the other referring to the concern for the pleasure of others. This makes sense when one explores the etymology of the two words, both arising from the same source, the Latin 'complacere', meaning 'to please'.

From Quiz Misunderstood Words

Answer: transparent

The English language can be so confusing; why should one word mean the opposite of itself, yet sound and look exactly the same? These words are called contranyms or Janus words. Transparent is both invisible and, at the same time, obvious - there or not there? The other choices are also contranyms: cleave - to adhere or to split; oversight - watchful care or a mistake; sanction - to approve or to penalize. Talk about your possible misunderstandings...

From Quiz Words Easily Confused

Answer: Flout

The word flout comes from the Dutch 'fluiten', meaning 'whistle, play the flute'. Its archaic meaning, to mock, somewhat relates to its more modern meaning, to 'openly disregard' a rule, or some other formally established institution. The word flaunt is in no way related to flout. To flaunt means to display something (wealth, for example) ostentatiously. Typically, the word flaunt is used in cases where the word flout should be used (ex. He decided to flaunt the rules and not wear a tie.) While some dictionaries have started to list this as an alternative meaning, due to its widespread misuse, it is not the primary meaning of flaunt.

From Quiz Misunderstood Words

Answer: the masses

People are so sure about this one (wrongly) that I have won bets on the meaning of the expression. The term hoi polloi is from the Greek and means the majority or the masses, the common people. Yet, somehow people hear it and, perhaps, it sounds to them like "hoity toity" and they are absolutely sure it means the upper class when, in fact, it means just the opposite. Or maybe people just don't like to admit the fact that they are, in reality, the hoi polloi.

From Quiz Misunderstood Words

Answer: to weaken

Did you get it right? Most people hear the word enervate and they think of energy and, incorrectly, associate the word with its opposite meaning. Enervate means lacking in energy, enfeebled or weakened, not to be confused with energized...it is the "energizer bunny" who sells batteries, not the enervated bunny (who would actually be too tired to go on!).

From Quiz Misunderstood Words

Answer: recklessness

This is yet another word that is often misused. Temerity is from the Latin "temere", meaning (amongst other uses) rashly, i.e., foolhardy disregard of danger or audaciousness. It may sound like timidity (fearful and hesitant) but means exactly the opposite. So, if one has the temerity to stand up for what he believes in, he should not be associated with someone with the timidity of a mouse or a rabbit.

From Quiz Misunderstood Words

Answer: barber

If you chose the doctor because you thought it related to tonsils, you were incorrect; nor does it have to do with torts or tarts. Tonsorial is from the Latin "tonsor" meaning barber, and "tondere" meaning to shear. It simply means relating to barbering or a barber. It would seem much more elegant to go to a 'tonsorial parlor' than to be shaved at a barbershop. And are you old enough to remember the tonsorial pole outside the shop, i.e., that red and white (and sometimes blue) barber's pole?

From Quiz Words Easily Confused

Answer: Neither

Though the spelling of the three words are similar, and there are some commonalities in their etymologies, the three words have very discrete meanings. To appraise something is to assess its value, while typically the word apprise is used in the construction 'apprise someone of', in other words, to inform or tell someone. To praise someone or something is to express your admiration or approval for that person or thing.

From Quiz Words Easily Confused

Answer: Loose

One of the most common spelling errors I see in writing involves a confusion between the words 'loose' and 'lose'. When you lose a game, you simply do not win. The word loose has nothing to do with winning or losing, but rather refers to something not tightly in place or tied down properly, or, in another sense of the word, relaxed or even careless. I hope you have enjoyed this quiz and perhaps learned a few new things. Thank you for playing. I invite you to try some of my other quizzes if this one pleased you.

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Last Updated Feb 14 2026 5:52 AM

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