Master confusing words with ease
Distinct vs. Distinctive
Distinct
/dɪˈstɪŋkt/Examples:
He made the last statement in a tone of distinct regret.Two distinct knocks, sir, will produce the slavey at any time.Dr. Savaronoff was a distinct personality.
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Antonyms:
Distinctive
/dɪˈstɪŋktɪv/Examples:
But the analogy ignored the neutron's distinctive neutrality.There was nothing distinctive about the pictures.Her laughter had a distinctive, infectious quality.
Synonyms:
Antonyms:
Ways to tell them apart:
- Distinct often describes something that is clearly different or separate from others.
- Distinctive refers to something that has a special quality or trait that makes it stand out.
- Remember: distinct focuses on separation, while distinctive focuses on uniqueness.
- A distinct smell could simply be a strong or clearly identifiable one, while a distinctive smell is one that is unique or characteristic.
- The words can both describe differences, but distinct emphasizes clarity and separation, while distinctive emphasizes special features.
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