1. Embezzle – steal or misappropriate Synonyms: defalcate, misapply, peculate, abstract, purloin Antonyms: reimburse, compensate, receive Usage: Four Mysore Sugar employees accused of embezzlement.   2. Venal – showing or motivated by susceptibility to bribery; corrupt. Synonyms: amoral, dishonourable, unscrupulous, mercenary Antonyms: ethical, upright, truthful, scrupulous Usage: Because the mayor was a venal man, he had no problem accepting bribes from real estate developers. […]

1. Ambush – a surprise attack by people lying in wait in a concealed position. Synonyms: ambuscade, camouflage, waylaying, deception Antonyms: frankness, honesty Usage: 12 personnel were killed in an ambush by Maoists in Sukma district.   2. Contraband – imported or exported illegally, either in defiance of a total ban or without payment of duty. Synonyms: proscribed, verboten, bootleg, interdicted Antonyms: legal, lawful,

1. Flippant – not showing a serious or respectful attitude. Synonyms: frivolous, superficial, shallow, glib, irresponsible, insouciant Antonyms: serious, respectful Usage: Economic Affairs Secretary asked Amazon to desist from being flippant about Indian symbols and icons.   2. Disenchantment – a feeling of disappointment about someone or something you previously respected or admired; disillusionment Synonyms: discontentedness, cynicism, disillusion, bafflement Antonyms: euphoria, triumph,

1. Eerily – in a strange and frightening manner. Synonyms: bizarrely, preternaturally, spookily, unnervingly Antonyms: naturally, nicely, ordinarily, pleasantly Usage: The robot looks eerily real.   2. Disgruntle – make (someone) angry or dissatisfied. Synonyms: discontented, aggrieved, resentful, displeased, malcontent Antonyms: happiness, pleasure, satisfaction Usage: Nothing disgruntles anyone more than the feeling they are being cheated   3. Expediency – the quality of being convenient and practical despite

1. Scrutiny – critical observation or examination. Synonyms: audit, perusal, surveillance, exploration Antonyms: glance, cursory look Usage: We have around 45 crore bank accounts and if 1% of such accounts are picked up for scrutiny, that itself will make 45 lakh cases.   2. Perjure – wilfully tell an untruth or make a misrepresentation under oath Synonyms: deceive, delude, equivocate, forswear,

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