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The importance of vocabulary cannot be taken for granted by students who are preparing for competitive exams like UPSC, Bank exams, IELTS, GRE, etc. To achieve their dream goal, students also need to focus on improving their language skills.
Here’s a way to improve your vocabulary and communication skills. Check out the words for the day and a small quiz to push yourself to improve your word power and language skills.
Audacious (Adjective)
Meaning: showing a willingness to take surprisingly bold risks
Example: Her audacious behaviour will land her in trouble one of these days
Enigma (Noun)
Meaning: a person or thing that is mysterious or difficult to understand
Example: Scientists have solved the enigma of the strange markings in the desert
Vacillating (Adjective)
Meaning: wavering between different opinions or actions; irresolute
Example: He was accused of vacillating leadership
Enchanting (Adjective)
Meaning: delightfully charming or attractive
Example: The enchanting sight of swans in the twilight was mesmerising
Loquacious (Adjective)
Meaning: tending to talk a great deal; talkative
Example: I cannot tell whether he recognised me, but that night he was voluble, almost loquacious
Cacophony (Noun)
Meaning: a harsh discordant mixture of sounds
Example: At home, at work and in the street the cacophony never ceases
Enervated (Adjective)
Meaning: drained of energy or vitality
Example: The tension has enervated whole generations of players
Prevaricate (Verb)
Meaning: speak or act in an evasive way
Example: He seemed to prevaricate when journalists asked pointed questions
Ostracize (Verb)
Meaning: exclude from a society or group
Example: Colleagues ostracized him for not taking part in the strike
Malice (Noun)
Meaning: the desire to harm someone; ill will
Example: Even the doctrine of transferred malice can be used
Put your thinking cap on and try to answer the following questions to understand how much you have grasped.
- I bear no _________________ towards him. Which of the following words fits best in the sentence? (Malice, Ostracize)
- He lost the battle, and was _________________; most Athenians did not agree with him. Which of the following words fits best in the sentence? (Ostracized, Prevaricate)
- Can you think of some antonyms for the word Enervate?
- Can you think of some synonyms for the word Cacophony?
- Can you think of some sentences using the words Audacious, Enigma, and Loquacious?
Also Read: Vocabulary Made Easy series: Hone your language skills and impress your peers
Watch out for this space for your weekly update on improving word power.
(Definitions and examples are from Oxford Languages)
