Limp and limpid have very different meanings. Limp as an adjective describes a kind of structural (physical) weakness; it means loose or floppy, not stiff or rigid, like a noodle, wet cloth, or a very tired person: After digging all day, his arms hung limp at his sides; they were so worn out. Without wind, the flag hung limp from […]

These are quite different words, but you may see impassible as an incorrect spelling of impassable because impassable is much more commonly used than impassible. Impassable is an adjective meaning “not able to be passed”: The mountains were so rocky as to be impassable. Impassible is an adjective meaning “not able to feel pain” or “not able to feel emotion.” […]

Although the meanings of these two words can be similar in some contexts, it is best to think of them as different in meaning. Both words describe the status of a person who is free from negative consequences; however, their similarity ends there. Immunity is the condition of a person who will not become ill, or […]

Immure literally means “to wall in”— i.e., to place someone inside a wall; however, it is used metaphorically, in many useful ways:         The archaeologists found precious artifacts immured in the walls of the tomb.         The students immured themselves among stacks of books before exams. Inure means “to harden” (a person)—i.e. to make a person insensitive to difficult conditions: […]

These two words can be difficult to remember because they sound the same and have related meanings. Hurtle is a verb—or rather two verbs. Without an object, it means “move very quickly.” With an object, it means “throw something with force (so that it moves through the air very quickly)”:         The rocket hurtled towards the stars.         The soldier […]