Vocabulary

1. Belligerence – aggressive or warlike behavior. Synonyms: aggressiveness, animosity, aggression, antagonism Antonyms: friendly, peaceable Usage: The continuous belligerence of North Korea is only one side of the story.   2. Rhetoric – the art of effective speaking or writing Synonyms: address, bombast, discourse, oratory Antonyms: quiet, conciseness Usage: Modi’s actions have not matched rhetoric, says Washington   3. Trumped – surpass (something) by saying or doing […]

1. Cobble – to mend (shoes, boots, etc.); patch, to put together roughly or clumsily. Synonyms: assemble, complete, construct, create, fabricate, mass-produce, synthesize, accomplish, carve, cast, compose, execute, fashion, forge, form, Antonyms: break, demolish, destroy, divide, ruin, separate, abandon Sentence Usage: BJP attempts to cobble up numbers   2. Nascent – beginning to exist or develop. Synonyms: burgeoning, fledgling, growing, incipient, promising, beginning,

1. Soporific – tending to induce drowsiness or sleep. Synonyms: sleeping pill, sleeping potion, sedative, calmative, tranquillizer, narcotic, opiate. Antonyms: upsetting, awake, exciting, invigorating, stimulating Sentence Usage: The soporific effect of milk (at bedtime) is an age old tested truth.   2. Insatiable – impossible to satisfy. Synonyms: unquenchable, unappeasable, uncontrollable, voracious, prodigious, gluttonous, greedy, hungry Antonyms: fulfilled, full, pleased, satiable, satisfied Sentence

1. Allure – to attract or tempt by something flattering or desirable. Synonyms: attraction, charisma, charm, enticement, glamor Antonyms: repulsion Sentence Usage: Allure of monthly returns   2. Wrangling – to argue or dispute, especially in a noisy or angry manner. Synonyms: bicker, disagree, quarrel, quibble, squabble, tangle, altercate Antonyms: agree, concur, give in, make peace Sentence Usage: the order saw a lot of

1. Grapple – to hold or make fast to something Synonyms: confront, contend, cope, deal with, attack, battle, catch, clash, clasp Antonyms: agree, avoid, be immune, cancel, disconnect, dodge, free, give, idle Sentence Usage: TN grapples with Cyclone HVAC   2. Flak – criticism; hostile reaction; abuse Synonyms: abuse, brickbat, censure, condemnation, disapprobation, disapproval Antonyms: approval, commendation, compliment, endorsement, flattery Sentence Usage: the decision

1. Drubbing – a beating; a thrashing, a resounding defeat in a match or contest. Synonyms: beating, thrashing, walloping, thumping, battering, pounding, pummelling, slapping, smacking, punching, bludgeoning, thwacking, cuffing Antonyms:success, triumph, victory, win Sentence Usage: Scotland’s 3-0 drubbing by France.   2. Lethal – sufficient to cause death, very harmful or destructive Synonyms: fatal, deadly, mortal, causing death, death-dealing, life-threatening, murderous, homicidal,

1. Innate – inborn; natural, originating in the mind. Synonyms: inborn, natural, inbred, congenital, inherent, intrinsic, instinctive, intuitive, spontaneous, unlearned, untaught; hereditary. Antonyms: stupid, unintelligent, inheritable, heritable Sentence Usage: Golf requires athletic and innate talent   2. Pernicious – having a harmful effect, especially in a gradual or subtle way. Synonyms: harmful, destructive, injurious, hurtful, detrimental, deleterious, dangerous, adverse, inimical, unhealthy, unfavourable, bad,

1. Recourse – a source of help in a difficult situation. Synonyms: option, possibility, alternative, possible course of action, resort, way out, place/person to turn to, source of assistance, available resource, hope, remedy, choice, expedient; refuge Antonyms: blockage, hindrance, injury, obstruction, permanent, stop Sentence Usage: Investors not selling stake, will take legal recourse   2. Propitious – giving or indicating a good

1. Squander – waste (something, especially money or time) in a reckless and foolish manner. Synonyms: waste, misspend, misuse, throw away, dissipate, fritter away, run through, lose. Antonyms: accumulate, aggregate, amass, collect, gather, heap up, hoard, hoard up, pile up, store up Sentence Usage: Parliamentarians should not squander Indo-Pak talks over Poonch tragedy.   2. Predicament – a difficult, unpleasant, or embarrassing

1. Antiquated – old-fashioned or outdated. Synonyms: outdated, out of date, outmoded, behind the times, old-fashioned, archaic, anachronistic, superannuated. Antonyms: current, modern, new, young, forward-looking Sentence Usage: India will plan to amend its antiquated labour laws.   2. Extrapolate – estimate or conclude (something) Synonyms: deduce, hypothesize, anticipate, assume, conclude, envision, figure, foresee, foretell, guess, predict Antonyms: doubt Sentence Usage: It is easy for

1. Dampen – make less strong or intense, make slightly wet. Synonyms: moisten, damp, wet, lessen, decrease, diminish, reduce, lower, Sentence Usage: Cut in domestic gas price may dampen investment   2. Palpable – able to be touched or felt. The word is often used to describe things that usually can’t be handled or touched, such as emotions or sensations. Synonyms:  tangible, touchable, noticeable, detectable, solid,