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, allowed
Usage: Customs has seized contraband valued over Rs1.16 crore in 24 instances of smuggling reported at the at the international airport
3. Impregnable – (of a fortified position) unable to be captured or broken into.
Synonyms: fortified, impenetrable, indestructible, invincible, invulnerable
Antonyms: breakable, destructible
Usage: The right of the people of Kashmir to a plebiscite is an inherent right
4. Quip – a witty remark.
Synonyms: banter, gag, gibe, pleasantry, badinage, drollery
Antonyms: flattery, praise, seriousness
Usage: President quickly apologised for his quip on “The Tonight Show”
5. Rectitude – morally correct behaviour or thinking.
Synonyms: righteousness, goodness, honourableness, integrity
Antonyms: corruption, deceit, dishonesty, immorality
Usage: The necessity of moral rectitude was itself an incentive.
6. Servile – having or showing an excessive willingness to serve or please others.
Synonyms: obsequious, sycophantic, subservient, fawning, ingratiating,
Antonyms: aggressive, dominant
Usage: Even though Michelle was no longer a maid, she still felt servile when she was in a room with wealthy people.
7. Rancor – bitterness or resentfulness, especially when long standing.
Synonyms: malice, malevolence, malignancy, animosity, antipathy, enmity
Antonyms: friendliness, good will, sympathy
Usage: He spoke without rancor.
8. Presage – be a sign or warning of (an imminent event, typically an unwelcome one).
Synonyms: portend, augur, foreshadow, apprehension
Antonyms: demonstrate, determine, warrant
Usage: The heavy clouds above the moorland presaged snow
9. Reprisal – the action or practice of using force, short of war, against another nation, to secure redress of a grievance.
Synonyms: retaliation, retribution, vengeance, counterblow, requital
Antonyms: forgiveness, pardon, kindness, sympathy
Usage: Even in the most extreme circumstances, back and forth reprisal is generally not the best way to resolve conflict.
10. Raze – completely destroy
Synonyms: bulldoze, demolish, dynamite, expunge, extirpate
Antonyms: construct, restore, raise
Usage: The commercial builder has plans to raze the buildings and develop the area into a series of strip malls.