# delicate vs deviate

> English confusable word pair

## The two words

### delicate
*adjective · IPA /ˈdɛl.ɪ.kət/ · frequency rank #7,003*
Easily damaged or requiring careful handling.

### deviate
*verb · IPA /ˈdiː.vi.eɪt/ · frequency rank #26,751*
To go off course from; to change course; to change plans.

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