✅ Strangely refers to something happening in an unusual, odd, or weird way (The leaf was strangely colorful; The door creaked strangely).

✅ Peculiarly refers to something happening in a way that is out of the ordinary (The house was peculiarly quiet).

✅ Peculiarly can imply that something happening feels supernatural or excessively strange, emphasizing the idea that it is happening in a way that is different from normal (He was peculiarly subdued at his birthday party).

✅ Strangely can also suggest this, but it also suggests things happening in an unexpected or odd way (The dream was strangely vivid).

Write about a peculiarly busy day with the help of Grammar Coach.

✅ Avoid means to keep away from someone or something (avoid a nosy aunt; avoid danger).

✅ Sidestep means to dodge or avoid something, either by or as if stepping aside (sidestep responsibility; sidestep the issue entirely).

✅ Avoid and sidestep both mean to keep clear of something.

✅ Avoid is the more general word, and sidestep specifically suggests narrowly avoiding something.

Don’t sidestep these synonyms!

✅ Pardon means to forgive someone. It often refers to freeing someone from legal responsibility for a crime (The king pardoned the thief).

✅ Absolve means to free someone from guilt, blame, or responsibility or to declare them not guilty of a crime (He absolved her of her obligation to take out the trash).

✅ Pardon particularly suggests being no longer blamed for an act after a punishment, or part of a punishment, has already taken place (They were pardoned after serving three months).

✅ Absolve generally refers to freeing someone from blame before a punishment takes place (He was absolved of the cereal theft).

Write about a time you were absolved from any wrongdoing with the help of Grammar Coach.