Words often confused and misused -8

1.    Delightful and Delicious  

Delightful /dɪˈlaɪtf(ə)l/                Very pleasing

I was totally impressed by her delightful singing.

Delicious /dɪˈlɪʃəs/                     Tasty, good to eat

The food in this restaurant is quite delicious.

2.    Destiny and Destination

Destiny /ˈdestəni/           Somebody’s preordained future

You can shape your  destiny with a proper goal and perseverance.

Destination /ˌdestɪˈneɪʃ(ə)n/      the place where someone or something is going

This bus will take you to your destination.

3.    Deny, decline and refuse

Deny /dɪˈnaɪ/       to say that you did not do something  that someone has  accused you of doing

The officer denied having accepted bribe.

Decline/dɪˈklaɪn/            to say politely that you will not accept something or do something/ to become less or worse

Mala declined the invitation to attend Ravi’s wedding.

The number of people using bicycles has declined drastically.

Refuse /rɪˈfjuːz/              Indicate unwillingness; not accept something

Today’s women refuse to be cowed down by male domination.

4.    Dependant and Dependent

Dependant (noun)/dɪˈpendənt/                                    a child or other relative to whom

 you givefood, money, and a home.

Having his parents as dependants, Sekhar works overtime to make both ends meet.

Dependent (adjective)  /dɪˈpendənt/              Not self-reliant

I have two dependent relatives to care for.

5.    Desert and Dessert

           

Desert (noun) /ˈdezə(r)t/           a large area of land with few plants and little water

and where the weather is always dry.

The ‘Thar Desert’ forms a natural boundary running along the border between India and Pakistan.

Dessert /dɪˈzɜː(r)t/      sweet food that you eat after the main part of a meal

I am planning to prepare gulab jamuns for dessert .