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!