English: Vocabulary Set 3
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 situation.
Synonyms: difficult situation, awkward situation, mess, difficulty, problematic situation, issue, plight, quandary, trouble, muddle,
Antonyms: assurance, self-satisfaction, rest , decision , ease , comfort , calmness
Sentence Usage: This is a predicament many youngsters in their mid-20s face.
3. Befitting – appropriate to the occasion.
Synonyms: in keeping with, as befits, fitting, appropriate to, fit for, suitable for, suited to, apt for, proper to, right for, compatible with, consistent with, in character with
Antonyms: awkward, ill-becoming, ill-fitting, improper, indecent, indecorous, unbecoming, unfit, unseemly, unsuitable
Sentence Usage: This was the first time India gave a muhtod jawab (befitting reply) to Pakistan.
4. Transgression – an act that goes against a law
Synonyms: offence, crime, sin, wrong, wrongdoing, misdemeanour, felony, misdeed, lawbreaking, vice, evil-doing, indiscretion, peccadillo, mischief,rule, or code of conduct; an offence.
Antonyms: blamelessness, excellence, godliness, goodness, holiness, innocence, integrity, morality, purity, rectitude, right, righteousness, sinlessness, uprightness, virtue
Sentence Usage: ‘Temporary transgression’ by Chinese soldiers in Arunachal Pradesh.
5. Candour – the quality of being open and honest; frankness.
Synonyms: frankness, openness, honesty, candidness, truthfulness, sincerity, forthrightness, directness, lack of restraint, straightforwardness,
Antonyms: guardedness, evasiveness, insincerity
Sentence Usage: Gopinath Munde’s candour should initiate far-reaching reform.
6. Spurn – reject with disdain or contempt.
Synonyms: refuse, decline, say no to, reject, rebuff, scorn, turn down, turn away, repudiate, treat with contempt, disdain,
Antonyms: adore, honor, respect, revere, reverence, venerate
Sentence Usage: India may spurn EU demand for duty cut on auto parts.
7. Succumb – fail to resist pressure, temptation, or some other negative force.
Synonyms: yield, give in, give way, submit, surrender, capitulate, cave in.
Antonyms: survive, come through, pull through, pull round, make it.
Sentence Usage: The country will not succumb to “any pressure from any where” to modify it.
8. Astute – having or showing an ability to accurately assess situations or people and turn this to one’s advantage.
Synonyms: shrewd, sharp, sharp-witted, razor-sharp, acute, quick, quick-witted, ingenious, clever, intelligent, bright, brilliant, smart, canny, intuitive.
Antonyms: blind, dull, idiotic, imbecile, shallow, short-sighted, stolid, stupid, undiscerning, unintelligent
Sentence Usage: Michal Kalecki, the astute Polish economist who was one among many intellectuals who had made a beeline
9. Annul – declare invalid (an official agreement, decision, or result).
Synonyms: declare invalid, declare null and void, nullify, invalidate, void; repeal, reverse, rescind, revoke, set aside, cancel, abolish, undo, abrogate, countermand,
Antonyms: authorize, cherish, confirm, continue, enact, establish, institute, introduce, legalize, promote, reinstate, renew, repair, restore, revive, set up, support, sustain
Sentence Usage: Conversion will not annul a Hindu marriage.
10. Alack – used to express sorrow or distress
Synonyms: alas, lackaday
Antonyms: alleluia, glory, hooray (also hurrah or hurray), whoopee, wow, yahoo, yippee
Sentence Usage: Alack, it’s true—the only good restaurant in town is closing!