Compliment (noun) - expression of approval, admiration etc.
Complement (noun) - that which makes something complete

My compliments to your husband.
The party must consist of fifty people. Here are forty. We need ten more to reach our complement.

Medal (noun) - flat piece of metal given as an award or made to commemorate an event
Meddle (verb) - interfere with other's things

He won the gold medal.
Do not meddle with other people's affairs.

Affect (verb) - have an effect on
Effect (noun) - result
Effect (verb) - bring about, cause to happen

The climate affected his health.
He was deeply affected by the sad news.
Mongooses are not so much affected by cobra-bites as men are.
The effect of cobra-bite on a man is often deadly.
The new principal effected many changes in the college.

Prophesy (verb) - say what will happen in the future
Prophecy (noun) - power of telling what will happen in the future

I prophesy that it will rain tomorrow.
Did you hear my prophecy that it would rain tomorrow?

Stationary (adjective) - not moving or changing
Stationery (noun) - writing-materials

When an object isn't moving, it is stationary.
Articles like writing paper, pencils and pens are called stationery.

Dependant (noun) - somebody who depends upon another for a home, food etc.
Dependent (adjective) - depending

I have many dependants.
Kids are usually dependent on their parents till they can earn enough to support themselves.

Licence (noun) - permission to do something
License (verb) - give permission to

You must get a driving licence.
This shop is licensed to sell tobacco.

Disease (noun) - illness of body, mind
Decease (noun) - death

Cholera is a terrible disease.
The deceased means the dead people.

Difference (noun)
Deference (noun) - respect

There is no difference between this and that.
He is very polite to his parents and treats them with great deference.

Assent (noun) - give one's agreement to
Ascent (noun) - way up

He gave his assent to the proposal.
The temple is at the top of the hill and the ascent is very steep.

Illicit (adjective) - unlawful
Elicit (verb) - get an answer from somebody

Liquor made without a licence is illicit.
I asked him many questions to elicit what had really happened.

Eminent (adjective) - distinguished
Imminent (adjective) - likely to come or happen soon

People whose names are familiar to everyone are not necessarily eminent.
He is an eminent scholar.
The sky is heavily clouded, so rain seems imminent.

Illusion (noun) - false idea or belief
Allusion (noun) - hint

It is an illusion to think that the sun moves across the sky.
He did not make a single allusion to the examination results in his speech.
W B Yeats makes several allusions to Indian mythology in his poems.

President (noun) - head of a state or organization
Precedent (noun) - taken as an example of or as a rule for what comes later

He is the President of the United States.
I will let you do this now, but don't take it as a precedent. I will not let you do this again.

Adverse (adjective) - hostile
Averse (adjective) - harbouring dislike to

The officer was not promoted because there was an adverse report against him.
He is not averse to violent methods.
Which cat is averse to fish?

Accelerate (verb) - increase the speed
Expedite (verb) - assist and hasten the progress of

He suddenly accelerated the car; it shot forward and soon disappeared from view.
All steps have been taken to expedite the formation of the new state.

Application (noun) - the process of applying, enforcement
Implication (noun) - meaning implied but not explicitly stated

The application of the tax measures will cause hardship to the middle class.
The implications of his statement are far-reaching.

Ancient (adjective) - very old
Antique (adjective) - old-fashioned

Some people harp on the ancient glory of Indian culture.
In the museum we have some remarkable relics of antique sculpture.

Apprehend (verb) - grasp, get a hold on the meaning of a thing
Comprehend (verb) - understand fully

I can apprehend the bare principles of the Theory of Relativity but I cannot comprehend the full implications of that theory.

Amiable (adjective) - lovable
Amicable (adjective) - friendly

His amiable qualities endear him to everybody.
We have arrived at an amicable settlement of the dispute.

Adapt (verb) - make something suitable to or for a purpose
Adopt (verb)

Success often depends on your ability to adapt yourself to changing circumstances.
The merchant who had no children of his own adopted John as his heir.

Avert (verb) - turn away, ward off
Invert (verb) - turn upside down

We must make every effort to avert a Third World War.
He inverted the bottle to show that there was not a drop left.

Advise (verb)
Advice (noun)

I advised him to study law.
His advice was helpful.

Affection (noun) - love
Affectation (noun) - pretence

He has great affection for his mother.
I hate affectation in speech and manner.

Canvas (noun)
Canvass (verb) - request votes

This tent is made of canvas.
The candidates have been vigorously canvassing the support of the voters.

Childlike (adjective) - like a child
Childish (adjective) - immature

He has a childlike simplicity about him.
His conduct is extremely immature.

Congenial (adjective) - suitable, agreeable
Congenital (adjective) - from birth

In congenial surroundings a child's mind develops very well.
His blindness is congenital.

Capture (verb) - seize
Captivate (verb) - fascinate

He was captured by his enemies.
He was captivated by her beauty.

Compliment (noun) - expression of regard
Complement (adjective) - that which completes

Please, convey my compliments to your brother.
The ship has its full complement of sailors.

Confident (adjective) - sure
Confidential (adjective) - trusted, secret

I am confident of success this time.
I shall tell you something, but keep it confidential.

Comprehensive (adjective) - exhaustive
Comprehensible (adjective) - understandable

This book gives a comprehensive account of the whole of English grammar.
You must present your ideas in a lucid and comprehensible manner.

Confirm (verb) - ratify
Conform (adjective) - comply with

The decisions of the board were later confirmed by the minister.
This practice does not conform to the rules laid down by the committee.

Eligible (adjective) - qualified
legible (adjective) -readable

You are not eligible for the post.
Write legibly.

Facilitate (verb) - make easy
Felicitate (verb) - congratulate

Audio-visual aids will facilitate the teaching of science subjects.
We held a meeting to felicitate the winners.

Graceful (adjective) - full of grace
Gracious (adjective) - full of kindness

She looked graceful.
The princess was very gracious and readily agreed to preside over the women's conference.

Industrial (adjective) - pertaining to industry
Industrious (adjective) - hard-working

India's industrial development in recent years has been remarkable.
Industrious students should be encouraged and rewarded.

Ingenuous (adjective) - frank, open
Ingenious (adjective) - clever

His ingenuous nature has made him popular.
He has made an ingenious device that can make sugar out of coal.

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