Master confusing words with ease
Displace vs. Misplace
Displace
/dɪsˈpleɪs/Examples:
New lists continually displaced the old ones.The storm displaced thousands of residents from their homes.Migrations often displace local traditions and customs.
Synonyms:
Antonyms:
Misplace
/ˌmɪsˈpleɪs/Examples:
I often misplace my keys in the morning rush.Her habit to misplace documents caused several delays.He tends to misplace items when distracted.
Synonyms:
Antonyms:
Ways to tell them apart:
- Displace often involves moving something from its usual position, while misplace is about losing the position of an object momentarily.
- Displace can refer to a shift or removal, like people being displaced from their homes due to natural disasters; misplace indicates more of an accidental action of putting something like keys in the wrong spot.
- Remember dis in displace acts like in disturb - more serious and intentional action, while mis in misplace suggests a mistake, as in misunderstand.
- Displace can be used in more figurative senses, for instances, when something is replaced or takes the place of something else, unlike misplace which generally pertains to physical objects.
- Use displace for significant or deliberate relocations and misplace for unintentional, usually minor mislocations.
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