# parry vs purr

> English confusable word pair

## The two words

### parry
*verb · IPA /ˈpæɹ.i/ · frequency rank #16,295*
To avoid, deflect, or ward off (an attack, a blow, an argument, etc.).

### purr
*verb · IPA /pɜː/ · frequency rank #39,502*
To make a vibrating sound in its throat when contented or in certain other conditions.

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