This exercise can also be viewed at http://cataspirant.blogsome.com do write in some comments and pls join hands in this effort to improve our vocab.. and by the way it took 5 hours for me to compile this... Exercise 1 1.>Egregious — exceptionally bad…. notorious…. Usage :
a> Your egregious actions have forced me to reconsider your promotion.
b> The IRS agent made the egregious mistake of getting caught cheating on his taxes.
c>His egregious comments were so offensive the entire audience started booing and throwing things at him.
d> We tried to ignore his egregious manners, but when he began to lick his plate like a dog we had to leave.
Synonyms: abject , blatant , deplorable ,flagrant ,glaring , outrageous , outright
Antonyms: trifling
Some words sounding same but differing……
gregarious — sociable.. enjoying the company of others….
egress — exit or way out.
2.> Obdurate — very stubborn or unyielding Usage :
a>It is hard to believe that Docile Darlene could be the mother of such an obdurate little boy.
b>Your obdurate refusal to listen to the truth will only hurt you.
c>The tyrant was obdurate in his treatment of the prisoners, hardened and unsympathetic.
d>The judge was known for being merciful, but he was obdurate when the thief pled for leniency.
Synonyms : adamant, harsh, immovable, inflexible, intracable, merciless, obstinate, stubborn, uncaring
Antonyms: agreeable, amenable, compassionate, compliant, docile , flexible, obedient
Regarding the question the answer is stubborn.. it is the closest synonym.
perverse means marked by disposition to oppose and contradict.
deliberate means by conscious design or purpose.. i.e knowingly.
3.> Shimmer — shine with a weak or fitful light
Usage:
a> The lights shimmered on the water.
b> Beach leaves shimmered in the moonlight.
Synonyms: Glisten, flicker, twinkle, sparkle, gleam, scintillate, dance
So the answer is gleam.
vacillate means to fluctuate.
diminish means to reduce.
continue also doesn’t fit as the answer.
4.> Usher — if u usher someone somewhere.. you show them where they should go.. i.e. guide them.
Usage:
a> I ushered him into the office
b> They were quickly ushered away.
Synonyms: escort, show,direct, lead pave he way for,bring in, launch.
So answer here is guide.
denounce means speak out against or condemn
5.> Procreate — reproduce. Usage:
a> Early marriage and procreation are no longer discouraged there.
so here the answer is beget which means reproduce.. or make children
others doesn’t fit into this meaning.
6.> Jettison — discard thinking it as burdensome Usage:
a>We had to jettison the elephant; the ship would have sunk had we not thrown the animal overboard.
b>We will not jettison your brilliant ideas. We plan to keep them and use them as the foundation for our next show.
c>The proud actress jettisoned her old friends because they were not fashionable enough for her new image.
d>The foolish pilot jettisoned the emergency fuel just to make more room for his pet lama.
Synonyms : cast off, eject, discard, dispose off, eleminate, throw away.
Antonyms : keep, preserve, retain.
so here the answer is discard.
7.> Knave — rogue a false dishonest or decietful person.
so the answer here is rogue.
Some words sounding the same but meaning different….
naive means inexperienced
8.> Deter — try to prevent, show opposition to. Usage:
a>Supporters of CPI argue that the fuel hike would deter the people from buying petrol.
b>Jeremy was not deterred by this criticism.
Synonyms: prevent, stop,dissuade, impede, obstruct
Here the answer is distract.
9.> Atone — repent, expiate Usage:
a> He felt that he had atoned for what he had done to his son.
b> He atoned by apoligising…
c> I’ll never live long enough to atone.
Synonyms : make amends, compensate , do penance.
So here the answer is repent.
10.> Insinuate — introduce oneself in a subtle manner, suggest something in a unpleasent way. Usage:
a> Its not right to bring a good man down by rumour and insinuations.
So here answer is suggest.
11.> Muddle — mix up or confuse, a confused multitude of things, in a state of confusion. Usage:
a> My thoughts are in a muddle.
b> We are going to get into a hopeless muddle.
c> The laws lead to confusion, muddle and years of delay.
Synonyms : confuse, mix up, jumble, scramble, mess up
so here the answer is disorder.
horde means a moving crowd.
12.> Sardonic — mocking or cynical Usage:
a>The bartender threw out the man for making sardonic remarks to the waitress
b>Sardonic alludes to a plant from Sardinia which was believed to cause anyone who ate it to laugh convulsively and then die.
c>Your sardonic smile is irritating our guests.
d>The sorcerer’s sardonic grin gave Mindy chills up her spine.
e>Anabel was once kind and ingenuous, but she is becoming increasingly sardonic.
Synonyms : acerbic, bitter, caustic, cynical, mocking, sarcastic,scornful, snide.
Antonyms : ingenuous, optimistic, pleasant ,trusting.
So here the answer is derisive which means ridicule.
13.> Scalding — scathing: marked by harshly abusive criticism, increase temperature rapidly. Usage:
a>”his scathing remarks about silly lady novelists”
b> i tried to sip the tea but it was scalding.
c> scalding hot water…
So here the answer is boiling.
14.> Flippant — frivolously disrespectful, saucy. Usage:
a>Everyone at the awards ceremony was shocked by Medwin’s flippant remarks.
b>The flippancy of the little heiress made us want to throw a creme pie at her royal little face!
c>That flippant yong man should be reprimanded for his disrespectful attitude.
d>I wasn’t trying to be flippant I was just in a hurry.
Synonyms: bold ,cheeky, flip, brash, brassy, disrespectful, impudent,impertinent, insolent, pert, rude.
Antonyms: considerate, mindful, respectful, sensitive, thoughtful.
So here the answer is nonchalant meaning not caring type attitude.
15.> Lugubrious — extremely mournful or gloomy. Usage:
a>Morton always had a lugubrious look about him; he invariably appeared to be gloomy and depressed.
b>The widow’s cheerful disposition seemed out of place during the lugubrious funeral ceremony.
c>Your lugubrious plea for a corner office won’t do you any good. Murray already told me I could have it.
Synonyms: depressing, glum,dismal, rueful, somber, woobegone, woeful,melancholy.
Antonyms: gleeful, cheerful, jubiliant, mirthful.
So here the answer is gloomy.
16.> Nugatory — of no real value, trifling, insignificant, or inconsequential Usage:
a> a nugatory law.
b> The account paid only a nugatory rate of interest
Antonyms : worthy, valuable
So here the answer is worthles.
17.> Redeem — to buy back or prevent it from being completely bad. Usage:
a>He has realized the mistake he had made and wanted to redeem himself.
b>What you will paying back at the date upon which you plan to redeem the item.
So here the answer is regain.
18.> Tact — ability to avoid upsetting people by being careful not to say things that hurt them. Usage:
a> Her tact and intution never failed.
b> .. helping to smooth over problems with great tact and efficiency
Words should not be confused with…
Tacit — not spoken but implied by actions or statments.
So here the answer is diplomacy.
19.> Surrogate — substitute Usage :
a> Martin had become Howard’s Surrogate son.
b> Arms control should not be made into a surrogate for peace.
so here the answer is substitute.
20.> Genial — affable, very friendly. Usage:
a> “If you don’t mind”, Mrs indira said genially.
Some words not to be confused with…
Congenial — suitable to your needs or similar to your nature.
So here the answer is amiable meaning friendly.
Analysis of next 20 in the next post.
Vamsi Krishna
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