✅ Armpit refers to the hollow underneath your arm, where your underarm joins your chest (I prefer to wear long sleeve shirts that don’t show my armpits).

✅ Axilla refers to the armpit, and is an anatomical term. It can also refer to the same hollow under the wing of a bird, or the upper angle of the joint between a leaf and the stem supporting it (We will examine the axilla for any issues).

✅ Armpit and axilla both refer to the same body part, but armpit is the common term.

✅ Armpit can also refer to the worst part of a given area (He lives in the armpit of New York).

We promise we’re not sending you to the armpit of the dictionary with this synonym!

✅ Elbow refers to the joint between the upper arm and forearm. It can be used to refer to the same joint in the front leg of any four-legged animal, or any bend that is similar to an elbow (I banged my elbow on the door frame; They built their house right next to the river’s elbow).

✅ Ancon refers to the elbow, and is an anatomical term (You can see a break just below the ancon).

✅ Elbow and ancon refer to the same body part, but elbow is the more common term.

✅ Ancon is pretty rarely used, even in anatomical contexts. It’s a bit more common in architecture, and refers to a bracket that supports an architectural feature such as a cornice (The pigeons loved to roost in the ancons of the courthouse).

Write about a time you bumped your ancon with the help of Grammar Coach.

✅ Tactful describes having tact—that is, having a strong sense of what to say or do so you don’t cause offense (He gave a tactful answer to her question).

✅ Politic describes shrewdness in protecting your own interests while not upsetting or offending others (a politic decision).

✅ Tactful and politic both describe being aware of other people’s feelings in delicate situations. Politic tends to emphasize prudence in diplomacy, whereas tactful emphasizes a genuine desire not to offend others (He was very tactful during the disagreement; I felt like she had a very politic approach).

✅ Politic is a pretty formal and uncommon word, and has taken on negative connotations of falseness, although this is not its primary meaning.

It would be politic for you to check out these synonyms!