1. Schism – a split or division between strongly opposed sections or parties Synonyms: alienation, discord, disunion, faction, disagreement Antonyms: closure, harmony, conformity, juncture Usage: The widening schism between Church leaders and politicians   2. Penury – the state of being very poor; extreme poverty. Synonyms: : impoverishment, indigence, destitution, privation, deprivation Antonyms: penty, wealth, sufficiency Usage: He couldn’t face another year of […]

1. Ostensible – stated or appearing to be true, but not necessarily so. Synonyms: superficial, professed, avowed, presumed, purported, feigned, specious Antonyms: improbable, genuine, obscure Usage: Ostensibly, the undercover cop looked like a regular college student.   2. Cumbersome – large or heavy and therefore difficult to carry or use; unwieldy. Synonyms: : unmanageable, awkward, clumsy, incommodious. hefty Antonyms: convenient, helpful, airy, manageable

1. Ignoble – not honourable in character or purpose. Synonyms: dishonourable, unworthy, contemptible, despicable, shabby Antonyms: noble, dignified, worthy, reputable Usage: Ignoble feelings of intense jealousy.   2. Imbibe – absorb or assimilate (ideas or knowledge) Synonyms: assimilate, guzzle, ingest, quaff, gorge, ingurgitate, partake Antonyms: abstain Usage: If one does not imbibe the culture one cannot succeed   3. Magnate – a wealthy and

1. Laconic – using very few words Synonyms: concise, terse, succinct, short, economical, elliptical Antonyms: verbose, long-winded, loquacious Usage: His laconic reply suggested a lack of interest in the topic   2. Doleful – expressing sorrow; mournful Synonyms: morose, melancholy, miserable, fowretched, woebegone Antonyms: cheerful Usage: The doleful music made everyone cry.   3. Propitiate – win or regain the favour of (a god,

1. Demean – cause a severe loss in the dignity of and respect for (someone or something). Synonyms: mortifying, abject, lowering, ignominious, undignified, inglorious Antonyms: ennobling Usage: The students tried to demean the poor girl by making fun of her used clothes on social media.   2. Leeway – the amount of freedom to move or act that is available. Synonyms: indulgence,

1. Evangelist – a person who seeks to convert others to the Christian faith, especially by public preaching. Synonyms: gospeller, crusader, propagandist, campaigner, televangelist Usage: Speaking to the crowd about Christ was the only mission of the roving evangelist.   2. Herculean – requiring great strength or effort. Synonyms: arduous, gruelling, laborious, back-breaking, onerous, strenuous Antonyms: easy Usage: Although the task will

1. Falter – lose strength or momentum. Synonyms: flounder, hesitate, reel, waver, wobble, break, fluctuate Antonyms:  stabilize, endure, persist Usage: The music faltered, stopped, and started up again.   2. Tepid – showing little enthusiasm. Synonyms: dull, halfhearted, unenthusiastic, apathetic, lukewarm Antonyms: enthusiastic, keen Usage: The president has seen his popularity grow tepid ever since he mishandled the budget crisis.   3. Obviate – avoid

1. Precipitous – dangerously high or steep. Synonyms: abrupt, craggy, dizzying, sharp, arduous Antonyms: calm, flat, kind, nice Usage: You should think before you do precipitous stunts that endanger your life.   2. Abase – to reduce or lower, as in rank, office, reputation, or estimation; humble; degrade. Synonyms: belittle, debase, degrade, demean, diminish, disgrace, dishonor Antonyms: compliment, elevate, enhance, esteem, expand

1. Virulent – extremely severe or harmful in its effects. Synonyms: deadly, destructive, fatal, malignant, pernicious, baneful Antonyms: harmless, healthful, helpful, wholesome, gentle Usage: The firemen had to wear masks that would protect them from the virulent fumes.   2. Axiomatic – self-evident or unquestionable. Synonyms: aphoristic, absolute, accepted, apothegmatic, fundamental Antonyms: misunderstood, questionable, uncertain Usage: Science teacher gets angry when students

1. Faction – a small organized dissenting group within a larger one, especially in politics. Synonyms: clique, coalition, caucus, contingent, entente Antonyms: individual, unity, conformity, Usage: Sasikala faction is ‘AIADMK Amma’ and OPS’ ‘AIADMK Puratchi Thalaivi Amma’.   2. Veracity – conformity to facts; accuracy. Synonyms: authenticity, credibility, impartiality, integrity, probity Antonyms: deceit, hypothesis, infidelity Usage: The teacher doubted the student’s veracity when

1. Tenet – a principle or belief, especially one of the main principles of a religion or philosophy. Synonyms: assumption, credo, creed, doctrine, dogma, precept, persuation Antonyms: disbelief, doubt, reality, skepticism Usage: Many people believe the tenet that parents should be responsible for the behaviors of their children.   2. Peril – expose to danger; threaten. Synonyms: insecurity, jeopardy, menace, vulnerability, endangerment

1. Debunk – expose the falseness or hollowness of (an idea or belief). Synonyms: demystify, disparage, mock, puncture, deflate, uncloak Antonyms: flatter, praise, prove, uphold Usage: The scientist hoped to debunk the genetic theory by completing his own research.   2. Fret – be constantly or visibly anxious. Synonyms: agonize, bother, brood, chafe, torment, grieve, affront, anguish Antonyms: appease, placate, ignore, delight

1. Ravage – cause severe and extensive damage to. Synonyms: devastate, pillage, plunder, raze,  dismantle, prostrate Antonyms: preserve, surrender, construct Usage: If diabetes is not controlled, it can ravage many organs in the human body.   2. Gull – to deceive, trick, or cheat. Synonyms: bamboozle, deceive, defraud, dupe, gyp, hoodwink Antonyms: honest Usage: Trusting investors can easily be gulled by scams designed

1. Cohort – a group of people with a shared characteristic. Synonyms: companion, comrade, disciple, follower, accomplice, adherent Antonyms: enemy, foe, opponent, adversary Usage: 104-million-strong cohort continues to expand at an accelerating pace.   2. Sporadic – occurring at irregular intervals or only in a few places; scattered or isolated. Synonyms: desultory, fitful, infrequent, intermittent, irregular, isolated Antonyms: common, constant, frequent, systematic

1. Eschew – deliberately avoid using; abstain from. Synonyms: abandon, forgo, forswear, renounce, shun, disavow Antonyms: meet, embrace, face Usage: Dalai Lama, has called upon the people to eschew violence and preserve spiritual values   2. Dubious – hesitating or doubting. Synonyms: skeptical, equivocal, fishy, hesitant, improbable, reluctant Antonyms: aboveboard, believable, unambiguous, determined Usage: I had the feeling that her dubious plan would never work.