Key Difference – Anecdote vs Antidote
Anecdote and antidote are two words that often confuse many English learners. Although these two words sound somewhat similar, they have completely different meanings. An anecdote is a short amusing or interesting story about a real incident or person. An antidote is a medicine that counteracts poison. Antidote can also refer to something that counteracts an unpleasant feeling or situation. This is the key difference between anecdote and antidote.
What is an Anecdote?
An anecdote is a short story about an individual or an incident. Anecdotes can be real or fictional, but they are often presented as real incidents. Anecdotes are often humorous and amusing but are not the same as jokes since their primary function is not to evoke laughter. Anecdotes can be used to reveal a truth, to describe a quirk, characteristic of a person, and to communicate an abstract concept. An anecdote can be humorous, inspirational, cautionary, philosophical, or reminiscent. Anecdotes can be narrated about oneself or about someone known to the narrator. There are also anecdotes about famous people. Given below is an anecdote about Mark Twain.
One day, some friends of Mark Twain in New York remembered that it was his birthday and decided to send a greeting to Twain. But, he was not in New York at the time, and no one knew where he might be reached. The friends simply sent off a letter with the address “Mark Twain, God Knows Where.” Several weeks later, they received a letter from Twain: “He did.”
What is an Antidote?
An antidote is a substance that counteracts poison by controlling or stopping its effects. Each poison has its own specific antidote. If a poison enters your body, the doctors will give you an antidote to counteract the effects of the poison. Antidotal is the adjective form of antidote. Given below are some examples.
The doctor said that there was no antidote to the poison.
They used tea made from the willow bark as an antidote for snake bites.
Antidote can also refer to something that counteracts an unpleasant feeling or situation. For example,
Laughter is a good antidote for anxiety and stress.
The best antidote for the situation is making a public apology.
What is the difference between Anecdote and Antidote?
Definition:
Anecdote: Anecdote is a short amusing or interesting story about a real incident or person.
Antidote: Antidote is a medicine taken or given to counteract a particular poison. Antidote can also refer to something that counteracts an unpleasant feeling or situation.
Adjective:
Anecdote: The adjective form of anecdote is anecdotic.
Antidote: The adjective form of antidote is antidotal.
Image Courtesy:
“Conversation by Louis Moeller, undated, oil on canvas – New Britain Museum of American Art – DSC09346.” By Louis Charles Moeller – Own work, Daderot, 2013-06-27 12:31:55 (Public Domain) via Commons Wikimedia
“1249050” (Public Domain) via Pixabay