# debug vs drug

> English confusable word pair

## The two words

### debug
*verb · IPA /diːˈbʌɡ/ · frequency rank #34,458*
To search for and eliminate malfunctioning elements or errors in something, especially a computer program or machinery.

### drug
*noun · IPA /dɹʌɡ/ · frequency rank #1,422*
A substance used to treat an illness, relieve a symptom, or modify a chemical process in the body for a specific purpose.

## Source
Compiled from Wiktionary via kaikki.org (CC BY-SA). Data vintage: 2026-05-06.
Canonical page: https://plainspell.com/en/vs/debug-vs-drug