Master confusing words with ease
Jetsam vs. Flotsam
Jetsam
Examples:
A tide brought the jetsam onto the sandy shore.Birds circled above the colorful jetsam in the bay.Local artisans repurposed beach jetsam into art pieces.
Synonyms:
Antonyms:
Flotsam
/ˈflɒtsəm/Examples:
Flotsam from the shipwreck washed ashore overnight.The travelers stumbled upon flotsam on the remote beach.After the storm, the bay was littered with flotsam and jetsam.
Synonyms:
Antonyms:
Ways to tell them apart:
- Jetsam has the letter j, which you might associate with jettison, meaning to throw overboard.
- Remember that flotsam starts with flo-, similar to float, indicating debris floating on water.
- Jetsam is intentionally thrown overboard, whereas flotsam is accidentally left to float after a wreck.
- Think of jetsam as something more intentional, where the crew might jet it away to lighten the ship.
- Flotsam is part of the flotsam and jetsam debris typically found after a shipwreck, with flotsam being unintentional cargo or wreckage.
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