Master confusing words with ease
Official vs. Officious
Official
/əˈfɪʃl/Examples:
All these city and State officials speculated.That eighth draft is given in full in the official Life.The official pointed to a house a little distance away.
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Antonyms:
Officious
/əˈfɪʃəs/Examples:
The officious neighbor offered unsolicited gardening advice.Her officious demeanor often irked her more reserved colleagues.He was being officious, peeking over her shoulder at her work.
Synonyms:
Antonyms:
Ways to tell them apart:
- Official is formal and tied to authority, while officious involves unwanted or unnecessary help.
- Official often relates to something sanctioned by authority; Officious does not.
- If something is official, you can think of it as legitimate or approved; whereas officious is more meddlesome or intrusive.
- Remember official as associated with government or formal positions, and officious with someone being overly eager to help or intervene.
- Official denotes authority, officious indicates annoying intervention.
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