Anecdote-Antidote | Commonly Confused Words

Anecdote

/ˈænɪkdəʊt/

A short and amusing or interesting story about a real incident or person.

His speech was laced with witty anecdotes.She shared an anecdote from her recent travels.The book is filled with amusing anecdotes of childhood.

/ˈæntɪdəʊt/

A substance given to stop the harmful effects of a poison.

A good friend is an antidote to loneliness.Music can be an antidote to stress and anxiety.Her laughter was the perfect antidote to his bad mood.

Both words end in -dote, but they refer to very different things.
To remember anecdote, think of a-nec: a neck symbolizing a short, personal story someone tells, like how people often shoot the breeze by telling stories.
Antidote contains the prefix anti-, which commonly means against or opposite, hinting at its use against poisons or ailments.
Anecdotes are about stories and narratives, which can share insights or humor.
Antidotes are more scientific and serious, tied to health and medicine, unlike anecdotes which offer light-hearted or personal insights.