Broach-Brooch | Commonly Confused Words

Broach

/brəʊtʃ/

To bring up a topic for discussion.

The artist didn't broach the subject of his fees.Sarah hesitated to broach the topic of marriage.He never broaches controversial topics at dinner.

/brəʊtʃ/

An ornament or decorative piece of jewelry worn on clothing

She pinned the vintage brooch to her silk scarf.The museum displayed a 14th-century gold brooch.She gifted her sister a shimmering pearl brooch.

This word has no antonyms

Broach rhymes with coach, which is a good way to remember it’s often used to introduce or discuss a topic, like you'd approach a coach to discuss a game.
Brooch has a double o, similar to the word loop, which is fitting as it often loops onto clothing as an accessory.
Think of broach when you open (or approach) a conversation, much like you open a bottle with a corkscrew, which is another meaning of broach.
Remember that a brooch is something you can physically touch because it's jewelry, making it tactile and wearable.
Broach is more abstract, often introducing non-tangible topics rather than objects.