Vocabulary - Set 15

TEEMING: In abundance, fertile, highly productive - the teeming tropics, rank with vegetation.

Synonyms: swarming, fruitful, fecund, abounding

TRANQUIL: Calm; peaceful - a tranquil summer night.

Synonyms: placid, serene

Antonyms: perturbed, ruffled, turbulent

TRIVIAL: Of little - importance - a trivial offense.

Synonym: paltry

Antonyms: gross, momentous

VANQUISH: To subdue or conquer -an army vanquished with heavy losses.

VAUNT: To boast - proudly vaunted his strength.

Synonyms: brag (noun: braggadocio, braggart), proclaim

VERSATILE: Able to do many things skilfully - versatile in all the arts.

WHIM (adj.: WHIMSICAL): A sudden notion or passing fancy -frequently acted on the whim of the moment.

Synonyms: caprice, vagary, crotchet

ZEALOUS (noun: ZEALOT: fanatic): Full of enthusiasm or eagerness -a zealous student, first in his class.

Antonym: perfunctory

 Vocabulary - Set 14

RETRIEVE:

(1) To make good -retrieved a mistake.

(2) To recover -retrieved the suitcase left at the station.

(3) To restore - retrieved his lost fortunes.

SATELLITE:

(1) An attentive or flattering follower - a prince surrounded by many satellites.

Synonyms: lackey, toady, disciple, adherent; adj., fawning, obsequious, partisan

(2) A country influenced or controlled by another - Freedom is conspicuously absent ,in the Soviet satellites.

(3) A body (natural or artificial) which revolves around a larger body, generally a planet – The moon is the only natural satellite of the earth, but in recent years it has been joined by many artificial satellites.

SORDID: Mean and base; filthy - Sordid motives breed selfish actions.

Synonyms: degraded, vile, ignoble

SPORADIC: Occurring singly, at irregular intervals; scattered - sporadic cases of illness.

SPURN: To refuse or reject with contempt - an offer that was spurned instantly.

Synonyms: repel, snub

STRINGENT: Strict; compelling, constraining stringent regulations; stringent requirements.

Synonyms: exacting, rigid

Antonym: lax

TANGIBLE: Real; actual - tangible gains which may be seen. and counted.

Synonyms: material, veritable, perceptible, substantial

TANTAMOUNT: Equivalent - an act that is tantamount to treason.

TAUNT (verb). To reproach with contempt - taunted him with the charge of failure to act

promptly.

Synonyms: mock, twit, gibe, sneer, deride

(noun): An insulting, jeering, or bitter remark - hurled taunts at his foes.

 Vocabulary - Set 13

PROXIMITY: Nearness-worked in close proximity to his home.

Synonyms :propinquity, vicinity

Antonym: remoteness

QUASH: To crush; to render void - quashed a rebellion; quashed an indictment.

Synonyms: suppress, extinguish, quell; annul

RADICAL (noun): One who advocates extreme basic changes - The reform movement was led by a radical.

(adj.): Thorough, extreme - radical measures adopted to meet the emergency.

Antonym:(noun and adj.) conservative

RAMIFICATION: A branching; sub-division - studied the subject in all its ramifications.

REFUTE: To prove incorrect or false-refuted his opponent's argument.

Synonyms: rebut, confute

Antonyms: substantiate, confirm, corroborate

REITERATE: Repeat (several times) - reiterated his story once more.

RENEGADE: One who forsakes political or party principles or his religious faith - a renegade from his former allegiance.

Synonyms: turncoat, apostate, recreant, traitor

RESPITE:

(1) Temporary deferment or cessation of work or pain - a brief respite from labor.

Synonym: surcease

(2) A temporary delay in the execution of -a sentence - granted the doom man a temporary respite.

Synonym: reprieve

RESILIENT: Elastic; light-hearted; possessing power of recovery - a resilient Spirit, refusing to admit defeat.

Synonyms: flexible, pliable, supple, limber

RETRIBUTION: The reward or punishment exacted for an injury, wickedness, or other action - suffered just retribution for his folly.

Synonyms: requital, nemesis

 Vocabulary - Set 12

PETRIFY: To paralyze with horror, fear, or surprise - petrified by the enemy bombardment.

Synonyms: stupefy, stun, bewilder, amaze

PLAGIARISM: Adopting and reproducing, without acknowledgment, the writings or ideas of another and passing them off as one's own - denied the charge of deliberate plagiarism.

PLATITUDE: A dull and commonplace remark - bored people by his pompous phrases and platitudes.

Synonyms: bromide, truism, axiom

PRESTIGE: Esteem or influence accorded for recognized achievements or reputation – As Senator he enjoyed great prestige.

Synonym: distinction

PREDATORY:

(1) Inclined to plunder or rob; - predatory bands roaming the countryside.

(2) Preying on, others - predatory animals prowling about.

Synonyms: predacious, looting, pillaging

PRELUDE: An introduction, forerunner, or preliminary step - a short prelude to the play.

Synonyms: Preface, prologue. Preamble

Antonym: epilogue

PRESUMPTION:

(1) Something taken for granted - acted on a reasonable presumption.

(2) Going beyond proper bounds; impudent boldness - His question was downright presumption.

Synonyms: effrontery, forwardness, arrogance

PROCRASTINATE: To postpone or put off to another time - missed his opportunity by procrastinating too long.

Synonyms: defer, delay

PROGNOSTICATE (noun: PROGNOSIS): To forecast - The Weather Bureau prognosticates daily.

Synonyms: presage, portend, augur, forebode

PROVISIONAL: Temporary; for the time being - a provisional plan until a permanent decision is reached.

Synonym: tentative

 Vocabulary - Set 11

NOVICE: A beginner - conducted himself in politics like a novice.

Synonyms: tyro, neophyte

Antonym: virtuoso

OBLIVIOUS (noun: OBLIVION): Forgetful; absent-minded - walking oblivious of his surroundings.

Synonyms: unmindful, heedless, abstracted

OBSESSION: A persistent feeling, idea, activity, etc., which dominates a person; the state of being exclusively preoccupied by a fixed idea - Now that he has learned bowling, it has become his obsession.

Synonyms: mania, infatuation (a foolish passion), monomania

OBSOLETE: No longer in use - an obsolete word, not even included by most dictionaries.

Synonyms: archaic, antiquated

OBTRUSIVE (verb: OBTRUDE): Thrusting oneself or itself into undue prominence – made himself obnoxiously obtrusive.

Synonyms: intrusive, aggressive

OSTRACIZE: To banish; to exclude from public favour or privileges - a former premier

ostracized by popular vote.

Synonym: outlaw

PARADOX: A self -contradictory statement; something 'that appears to be absurd and yet may be true -"Life is too important a matter to be taken seriously." - a paradox by Oscar Wilde.

Synonym: anomaly

PARAPHRASE: To restate the meaning of a passage in other words - paraphrased the poem in a few lines of prose.

PARODY (noun): A humorous imitation of an author's style and mannerisms - wrote a parody on

Kipling's "Gunga Din."

Synonym: burlesque

(verb): To write a parody - parodied the popular authors of the (lay to his audience's amusement.

Synonym: Mimic

PERVERSE: Wilfully bent on doing the wrong thing - a perverse lad, always disobeying his parents.

Synonyms: headstrong, forward, refractory, wayward, fractious

 Vocabulary - Set 10

LUDICROUS: Ridiculous; producing laughter - a ludicrous remark that set them all to roaring.

Synonyms: mirthful, droll, comical, absurd

Antonyms: doleful, lugubrious, dismal

MALICIOUS (noun: MALICE): Bearing, or acting with, deliberate ill-will or spite - hurting

with malicious intent.

Synonyms: rancorous, malignant, malevolent, virulent, vindictive

Antonym: benign

MEDIOCRE: Average in quality - a mediocre performance, unworthy of his talents.

MONOLOGUE: A speech by one person - The actor gave his views in a dramatic monologue.

Synonym: soliloquy

Antonyms: colloquy (adj. colloquial): conversation between two or more persons; dialogue: conversation between two persons

MUNDANE: Of, or pertaining to, the world, as contrasted with the spirit - mundane affairs.

Synonyms: earthly, terrestrial, secular, temporal

MURKY: Dark; cloudy - a murky cavern.

Synonyms: dismal, tenebrous, fuliginous

Antonyms: resplendent, glowing, lustrous, luminous, fulgent, coruscating

MUTABLE: Given to frequent change in nature, mood, or form - mutable in mood as a spring wind.

Synonyms: vacillating, fickle, inconstant, fitful, mercurial, wavering, capricious

Antonyms: constant, steady

MYRIAD: Innumerable - the myriad stars in the heavens.

NAUTICAL: Pertaining to ships or navigation - a nautical career.

Synonyms: marine, naval, maritime

NOTORIOUS: Widely known (in a bad sense) - a notorious gambler.

 Vocabulary - Set 9

INTEGRITY: Honesty, moral soundness - a man of proved integrity.

Synonyms: probity, uprightness, incorruptibility

JARGON: Confused, unintelligible, meaningless talk; special vocabulary used only by members of a group or trade - Variety, a newspaper written in theatrical jargon.

Synonyms: gibberish, argot, cant

JEOPARDY: Danger - His life was in jeopardy.

Synonyms: hazard, peril

JUDICIOUS: Wise; using or exhibiting good judgment - a well-chosen plan, termed judicious by all.

Synonyms: discreet, politic, discerning

LATENT: Hidden; present but not fully developed - latent talent that time will reveal.

Synonyms: dormant, quiescent, covert, potential

Antonyms: apparent, patent

LAVISH:

(1) Profuse or generous - lavish in praise.

Synonyms: ample, superabundant

(2) Given to extravagance - a lavish spender.

Synonyms: prodigal, munificent, magnanimous.

Antonyms: parsimonious, niggardly, frugal, penurious

LETHAL: Deadly - a lethal weapon.

Synonyms: mortal, fatal

LONGEVITY: Prolonged duration of life - a country remarkable for the longevity of its inhabitants.

LOW: To bellow softly like cattle - the lowing herd in the meadow.

Synonym: moo

LUCID: Clear; transparent; easily understood - a lucid explanation of a difficult text.

Synonyms: pellucid, perspicuous, intelligible, limpid, luminous, translucent

Antonyms: abstruse, obscure

 Vocabulary - Set 8

IMPERVIOUS: Incapable of being penetrated - a mind impervious to new ideas.

Synonyms: impermeable, impenetrable

Antonyms: permeable, pervasive

IMPLICIT:

(1) Implied but not clearly expressed - an implicit agreement.

(2) Unquestioning - implicit confidence.

Synonyms: tacit, implied

Antonym: explicit

IMPORT (noun): Meaning; significance or importance - a matter of great import.

Synonyms: purport, moment, consequence

INCISIVE: Cutting, penetrating - incisive criticism.

Synonyms: sarcastic, mordant, trenchant, acute

INCREMENT: An increase - a salary increment.

Synonym: accrual

INDIGENOUS: Native - Rice is indigenous to China.

Synonyms: innate, inborn

INFERENCE: A conclusion reached by reasoning from data or premises - an inference drawn from his remarks.

Synonyms: deduction, implication

INGENIOUS: Demonstrating originality, skill, or resourcefulness - an ingenious device.

Synonyms: dextrous, inventive, adroit

Antonyms: maladroit, gauche

INHIBIT: To check or hinder - inhibited his friend from a foolhardy course.

Synonyms: restrain, curb

Antonym: promote

INSTIGATE: To stir tip - instigated discontent among the soldiers.

Synonyms: foment, incite

 Vocabulary - Set 7

FRUSTRATE: To prevent (the attainment of an object); to defeat or render ineffectual – His scholastic progress was frustrated by a serious illness.

Synonyms: balk, thwart, foil, baffle, obstruct, discomfit

Antonym: abet

GARNISH: To trim or decorate - dishes garnished attractively with greens.

Synonyms: adorn, deck

GREGARIOUS: Habitually fond of associating in a company or herd - gregarious sheep; that gregarious animal, man.

Antonyms: lone, aloof

HAIL: To greet - The crowd hailed the returning hero.

Synonyms: accost, salute

HOAX (noun): A trick or deception; a practical joke - played a hoax upon the credulous public.

Synonym: canard

(verb): To play a trick on; to deceive - He hoaxed the crowd completely with his disguise.

HYPOTHESIS: An assumption made for the sake of argument - worked from a fantastic

hypothesis.

Synonym: supposition

IDIOSYNCRASY: A. personal peculiarity - Wearing white was one of Whistler's idiosyncrasies.

Synonyms: eccentricity, foible, mannerism, crotchet, aberration, quirk, singularity

IMMACULATE: Spotless; pure - an immaculate reputation.

Synonyms: undefiled, unsullied, unblemished, untarnished

Antonyms: defiled, sullied, blemished

IMMUNE (verb: IMMUNIZE): Exempt from; protected from - immune from taxation.

Synonym : unsusceptible

IMPECCABLE: Faultless - performed with impeccable skill.

Synonyms: consummate, irreproachable, unerring, infallible

Antonyms: culpable, fallible

 Vocabulary - Set 6

EXOTIC: Strange and foreign - an exotic costume imported from Asia.

EXPLOIT (verb): To use for one's selfish purpose – refugees exploited by unscrupulous employers.

(noun): A brilliant deed - lauded for his exploits in science.

Synonym: feat

EXTINCT: No longer existing or active - the extinct dinosaur, alive only in history.

Synonym: defunct

Antonym: extant

FACADE: Front or face, especially of a building - a facade of marble.

FEASIBLE: Workable - a feasible plan, proved practical by - previous experience.

Antonym: impracticable

FETISH.

(1) Something that is believed to have magical powers - savages worshipping the fetish in a ceremonial dance.

Synonym: charm, talisman, amulet

(2) An object of unreasoning devotion and worship – Photography, begun as a hobby, became a fetish.

FICTITIOUS: Unreal; made-up - used a fictitious name to avoid being recognized.

Synonym: fabricated

FLAUNT: Display or wave boastfully - flaunted the excellent report before his delighted

parents.

FLEETING: Passing swiftly -the fleeting hours of happiness

Synonyms: transitory, fugitive

FLUCTUATE: To waver from one course to another; to vary irregularly - his mood fluctuating with every hour.

Synonyms: oscillate, vacillate, undulate, sway

 Vocabulary - Set 5

DISTRAUGHT: Mentally distressed; distracted - distraught by trials and tribulations.

Synonym: harassed

DIVERSE: (verb: DIVERSIFY; noun: DIVISIBILITY): Varied; different - two diverse

characters; one candid, the other insincere.

Synonym: multifarious

DIVULGE: To make public or reveal - refused to divulge his source of information.

Synonyms: disclose, impart

DYNAMIC: Forceful - possessed dynamic energy, tireless and powerful.

Synonym: energetic

Antonyms: static, inert, dormant, torpid, sluggish, quiescent

EDIFY: To instruct or uplift, particularly in morals or religion - a story that edifies the reader, as well as entertains him

EJACULATE: To exclaim or utter suddenly - ejaculated cry of horror.

ENGENDER: To cause, produce, or stir up-an act that engendered good will.

ERRATIC: Irresponsible, eccentric; lacking a fixed purpose erratic behaviour, reflecting his

queer ideas.

EXCEPTIONABLE: Objectionable - exceptionable behaviour, universally criticized.

Synonyms: questionable, reprehensible, censurable

Antonym: laudable

EXEMPLARY (noun: EXEMPLAR): Serving as a model; commendable - exemplary conduct

approved by all.

Synonyms: illustrative, typical; praiseworthy, laudable

 Vocabulary - Set 4

CREDITABLE: Deserving or reflecting Credit or honour - applauded for his creditable performance.

Synonyms: praiseworthy, meritorious, commendable

Antonyms: discreditable, infamous, opprobrious, ignominious

CURT: Rudely abrupt -offended by the curt response.

Synonyms: blunt, brusque, bluff

Antonyms: affable, civil

DELINQUENT (noun): An offender - found to be a delinquent by the court.

(adj.): Failing to fulfil an obligation - too many people who are delinquent in meeting their civic duties.

Synonym: derelict

DEMEANOR: Behaviour; bearing - carrying himself with a proud demeanour.

Synonyms: deportment, mien

DENOUNCE (noun: DENUNCIATION): To speak against - denounced by the press as a traitor.

Synonyms: stigmatize, censure, reprehend, castigate

Antonyms: laud, eulogize

DEPRECIATE: To belittle or speak slightingly of - depreciated John's acting ability.

Synonyms: disparage, derogate (adj. derogatory)

Antonyms: enhance, magnify, extol, laud, eulogize

DEVIOUS:

(1) Winding; indirect - took a devious, rather than the direct way home.

Synonyms: circuitous

(2) Straying from the right course - used devious means to attain his wicked ends.

Synonyms: crooked, erring

DEVOUT: Devoted to religious observances - devout in his regularity of attendance at worship.

Synonyms: pious, religious

Antonym: impious

DILEMMA: A situation calling for a choice between two equally difficult alternatives; hence, a difficult or perplexing situation - faced with a dilemma defying solution.

Synonyms: predicament, quandary, plight

DISCRETE: Separate - two discrete issues, totally unrelated.

 Vocabulary - Set 1

COLLUSION: Working together secretly for an evil purpose - acted in collusion to overthrow the government.

Synonyms: collaboration, conspiracy, conniving, machination

COMPATIBLE: Harmonious; able, to get along together parted company because they were not compatible.

Synonyms: congruous, consistent

Antonyms: incongruous, discordant, incompatible

COMPENSATION: Payment for services - just compensation for his labor.

Synonyms: stipend, remuneration, recompense, emolument

COMPLACENT: Self-satisfied - looked on his own performance with a complacent smile.

Synonym: smug

CONDOLE (noun: CONDOLENCE): To express sympathy with another in sorrow, pain, or misfortune - condoled with each other in their grief.

Synonyms: commiserate, show compassion, solace

CONDONE: To forgive or overlook (an offense) - condoned the deed, in view of the offender's age.

Synonyms: extenuate, palliate, mitigate, gloss

CONSENSUS. General agreement - The consensus of the committee was that no action should be taken.

Synonym: accord

COSMOPOLITAN (noun): One who is at home in all countries - A cosmopolitan can feel at ease anywhere in the world.

(adj.): Free from local prejudices - a world-wide traveller, cosmopolitan in tastes and attitudes.

Synonyms: Catholic

Antonyms: parochial, provincial

CRASS: Coarse and stupid - displayed crass ignorance.

Synonym: gross

CREDIBLE: Worthy of belief - a credible story, true to life.

Antonym: incredible

 Vocabulary - Set 2

ATTRIBUTE (verb): Assign -attributed his success to bard work.

Synonym: ascribe

(noun): An inherent quality -Generosity was his outstanding attribute.

AUTHENTIC: Genuine -proved to be an authentic document.

Synonyms: veritable, bona fide

Antonyms; apocryphal, counterfeit, spurious, bogus

BANTER: Good-natured teasing or ridicule-The two wits I exchanged banter, to the amusement of the audience.

Synonyms: raillery, chaff

BIASED: Prejudiced - misled by a biased point of view.

Synonyms: bigoted, arbitrary, partial, partisan

Antonyms: disinterested, equitable

BIZARRE: Queer; unusual in appearance- bizarre clothes, outlandish in the extreme.

Synonyms: odd, fantastic, grotesque, eccentric

BOG: A swamp - sank into the spongy bog.

Synonyms: morass, fen, quagmire, mire

CANDID (noun: CANDOR): Frank, outspoken; impartial a candid reply that could hardly be more forthright.

Synonyms: artless, ingenuous, unbiased

Antonyms: guileful, evasive

CHRONIC: Continuing a long time; habitual-a. chronic complaint, persisting for years.

Synonyms: persistent, unremitting, inveterate, incessant, constant

Antonyms: intermittent, sporadic, infrequent

CIVIL:

1. Of or having to do with citizens or the state - We I civil duties as well as civil liberties.

2. Polite, courteous - answered in a civil fashion.

Synonyms: respectful, gracious

COALITION (verb: COALESCE): Alliance; merging of various units into one unit – three parties forming a coalition to rule the country.

Synonyms: amalgamation, consolidation, fusion

 Vocabulary - Set 1

Hindu Vocabulary

English Vocabulary Set 05

21.Choose the word which best expresses the meaning of Rendered ?

A) faraway                  B) generate                C) conclude                D) detached   E) None of these

22.Choose the word which best expresses the meaning of Evocative ?

A)  remind                  B)  reunion                 C)  revenge     D) regret         E) None of these

23.Choose the word which best expresses the meaning of Reverberate ?

A) Provoke                 B) grudge                   C) resound                 D) sound        E) None of these

24.Choose the word which best expresses the meaning of Culmination ?

A) adept                     B) courage      C) completion                        D) anticlimax             E) None of these

25.Choose the word which best expresses the meaning of Frivolous ?

A) possessive             B) strict                      C) serious       D) less serious                       E) None of these

Answers & Explanations: 

21.Answer – B)  Explanation: endered – generate,

22.Answer – A)  Explanation: evocatively – remind,

23.Answer – C) Explanation: reverberate – resound, 

24.Answer –C) Explanation: culmination – completion 

25.Answer – D) Explanation: frivolous – less serious,

 English Vocabulary Set 04

16.Choose the word which best expresses the meaning of resentments ?

A) couthy       B) bitterness              C) pally                       D) couthie                  E) None of these

17.Choose the word which best expresses the meaning of rhetoric ?

A) rigid                        B) empty words                    C) full of words                      D) conciseness          

E) None of these

18.Choose the word which best expresses the meaning of inextricable ?

A) underlying B) unable                    C) unpredictable        D) unresolvable                    

E) None of these

19.Choose the word which best expresses the meaning of hegemony ?

A) weakness               B) subordination                   C) modesty                D) dominance           

E) None of these

20.Choose the word which best expresses the meaning of entrenched ?

A) destruction                       B) provoke                 C) quit             D) destroy      E) None of these

Answers & Explanations

16.Answer – B) Explanation: resentments – bitterness,

17.Answer – B) Explanation: rhetoric – empty words,

18.Answer – D) Explanation: inextricable – unresolvable,

19.Answer – D) Explanation: hegemony – dominance,

20.Answer – E) Explanation: None of these

English Vocabulary Set 03

11.Choose the word which best expresses the meaning of venomous ?

A) dangerous             B) stout                      C) rugged                    D) unstable    E) None of these

12.Choose the word which best expresses the meaning of gallant ?

A) quaggy                   B) ungentlemanly     C) brave          D) snug           E) None of these

13.Choose the word which best expresses the meaning of incisive ?

A) mousy        B) slow                       C) inarticulate                        D) incoherent            E) None of these

14.Choose the word which best expresses the meaning of lugubrious ?

A) brisk                       B) gelid                       C) mournful               D) elated                    E) None of these

15.Choose the word which best expresses the meaning of aesthetic ?

A) prevalent   B) prevalent               C) mediocre               D) beautiful                E) None of these

Answers and Explanations: 

11.Answer – A) Explanation: venomous – dangerous

12.Answer – C) Explanation: gallant – brave,

13.Answer – E) Explanation: None of these

14.Answer – D) Explanation: lugubrious – mournful,

15.Answer – D) Explanation: aesthetic – beautiful

English Vocabulary Set 02