Synonyms & Antonyms

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Synonyms &
Antonyms
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Use: The rocket mission was abortive because
Abandon (n.) careless disregard for
of faulty design
consequences

Synonym: wanton
Abridge (v.) to cut short
Antonym: uphold [IES-2002]
Synonym: downsize
Use: The abandoned site is a safe heaven for
Antonym: expand, enlarge. [IES-1997]
miscreants to carry their unlawful activities
Use: The abridged passage could not be

understood.
Abate (v.) to reduce in amount, degree,

intensity, etc.; lessen; diminish
Abscond (v.) to depart in a sudden and secret
Synonym: Decrease
manner, esp. to avoid capture and legal
Antonym: Increase [NTPC]
prosecution.
Use: The increasing temperature is sure to
Synonym: Run off
abate with the oncoming rain in the next few
Use: The cashier absconded with the money.
days.

Abstemious (adj.) sparing or moderate in
Aberrant (adj.) departing from the right,
eating and drinking; temperate in diet.
normal, or usual course.
Synonym: Temperate
Synonym: unusual [GAIL]
Moderate [RAILWAYS-1996]
Antonym: Ordinary
Antonym: Unrestrained
Use: The dog's sudden aberrant eating
Use: Persons with abstemious habits can
patterns alerted its owner to a possible health
adjust themselves in any social set up.
problem.

Abstinence (n.) Restrained eating or
Abjure (v.) to renounce, repudiate, or retract,
drinking, self denial
esp. with formal solemnity;
Synonym: Restrained eating or drinking
Synonyms: Renounce [GRE, CDS-2010]
Antonym: Indulgence
Use: recant the woman also confessed her
Use: The doctors have called for a total
share in the crime at Find on and both abjured
abstinence from alcohol.
the read.

Abstinence (n.) forbearance from any
Abominable (adj.) unacceptable and rude indulgence of appetite, Self-restraint, Self-
behaviour discipline, Moderation, Asceticism
Synonym: disgusting, shameless [IES-2009] S ynonym: Restrained eating or drinking
Antonym: civilized Antonym: Indulgence [HCL]
Use: We were shocked at his abominable act of Use: Spiritual ascetics preach a complete
eve teasing the teacher. abstinence from the world.

Aborigine (n.) One of the original or earliest Abysmal (adj.) of or like an abyss;
known inhabitants of a country or region immeasurably deep or great, extremely or
Synonym: Primitive inhabitant hopelessly bad or severe, Unfathomable
Antonym: Foreigner Synonym: Appalling
Use: A large population of Australia were Bottomless [DMRC]
aborigines. Antonym: Superb
Use: When one studies more, one sees one's
Abortive (adj.) failing to achieve a goal abysmal ignorance.

Synonym: fiasco
Antonym: effective, potent [IES-2009] Accede (v.) Comply, Grant, Allow, to give
consent, approval, or adherence; agree;
Synonym: Consent [SAIL]
Antonym: Reject
Use: The senior command did not accede to
these requests.
Synonym: Friendly Antonym: selfish [IES-2001]
Antonyms: Rude [EIL] Use: Her motives for donating the money are
Use: Accustomed to cold, aloof supervisors seemingly altruistic.
Nicholas was amazed at how affable his new
employer was affability, N. Amalgamate (v.) to mix or merge so as to
make a combination; blend; unite; combine.
Affluent (adj.) having an abundance of Synonym: Mix [S.S.C.-1995]
wealth, property, or other material goods; Antonyms : Separate [SAIL]
prosperous; rich Use: The data is also now amalgamated with
Synonym: Prosperous [Railways-1993] the Library's online catalog.
Antonym: Poor
Use: Design is vital to the competitiveness of Ambivalence (n.) Uncertainty or
businesses and the affluence of society. fluctuation, esp. when caused by inability to
make a choice or by a simultaneous desire to
Agglomeration (n.) a jumbled cluster or say or do two opposite or conflicting things.
mass of varied parts Collection, Heap Synonym: Confusion
Synonym: Aggregation Antonym: Decisiveness
Antonym: Dispersal Use: A constant theme of these reports is a
Use: It took weeks to assort the agglomeration marked ambivalence about the nature of the
of miscellaneous items she had collected on her inmates.
trip.
Amble (v.) to go at a slow, easy pace; stroll; to
Aghast (adj.) Horrified, Dumbfounded walk slowly in a relaxed way
Synonym: Meander, Saunter
Synonym: Amazed
Antonym: Hasten
Antonym: Unsurprised [BHEL]
Use: Teacher was aghast at the crude Use: He ambled around the town.
behaviour of the senior students at the annual
party. Ameliorate (v.) To make or become better,
more bearable, or more satisfactory; improve;
Agility (n.) Suppleness, Quickness, Dexterity, meliorate
the power of moving quickly and easily Synonym: Improve
Synonym: Nimbleness Antonym: Worsen [S.B.I. P.O.-1994]
Antonym: Slow Make worse [Stenographers' -1994]
Use: A smile often goes a long way to
Alacrity (n.) cheerful readiness, promptness, ameliorate the situation.
or willingness
Synonym: Eagerness [IES-2009] Amiable (adj.) agreeable; lovable; warmly
Antonym : Sluggishness friendly.
Use: We accepted the invitation with alacrity. Synonym: Good-natured [NTPC]
Antonym: Ill natured, Unfriendly
Alluvial (adj.) physically concerning land or Use: In Little Women Beth is the amiable
its inhabitants daughter whose loving disposition endears her
Synonym: Mortal to all who know her.
Antonym: Immaterial His amiable manners win him respect
everywhere.
Aloof (adj.) at a distance, esp. in feeling or
interest; Amoral (adj.) having no moral standards,
Synonym: Remote [HPCL] restraints, or principles;
Antonym: Synonym: Immoral
Use: Shy by nature, she remained aloof while Antonym: Moral
all the rest conversed. Echical [EIL]
Use: Jerry is almost totally amoral. He cares
Altruistic (adj.) showing a wish to help or only about making money and having fun and
couldn't care less about right or wrong.
bring advantages to other people

Synonym: benevolen
Apothegm (n.) Pithy, Arduous (adj.) Hard, Strenuous, Difficult;
Synonym: Moral Arduous means involving a lot of effort and

Use: Compact saying Proverbs is apothegm energy.
that has become familiar sayings. Synonym: Difficult
Antonym: Facile
Appease (v.). Pacify or soothe; relieve. Use: Her arduous efforts had sapped her
Synonym: To Pacify energy.
Anonym: Agitate [NTPC]
Use: Tom and Jody tried to appease the crying Arraign (v.) Charge in court indict
baby by offering him one toy after another. Synonym: Indict [UPSC, CDS]
However, he would not calm down until they Antonym: Pardon [IES-2009]
appeased his hunger by giving him a bottle, Use: After his indictment by the Grand Jury,
appeasement, N. the accused man was arraigned in the Country
Criminal Court.
Applaud (v.) to appreciate; clap for
Synonym: acclaim, adulation [IES-1998] Arrant (adj.) downright; thorough; notorious
Antonym: denounce Synonym: Unmitigated [NTPC]
Use: His pathbreaking work was applauded by Antonym: Mitigated
his colleagues.
Artifact (n.) Object made by human beings,
Apposite (adj.) suitable; well-adapted; either handmade or mass-produced.
Synonym: Man-made [Railways-1995]
pertinent; relevant;
Antonym: Natural object
Synonym: Appropriate [NTPC]
Use: Archaeologists debated the significance of
Antonym: Inappropriate
the artifacts discovered in the ruins of Asia
Use: The term "lifeless pallor"
Minor but came to no conclusion about the
seems very apposite.
culture they represented.

Approbation (n.) approval
Synonym: Approval Ascetic (adj.) practicing self- denial; austere.
Antonym: Disapproval [IES-2006] Ascetic means not involving in pleasures.
Use: Wanting her parents ‘regard’ she looked Synonym: Austere [BEL]
for some sign of their approbation. Antonym: Extravagant
Benjamin Franklin, that shrewd observer of Use: The wealthy self – indulgent young man
mankind, once wrote. “We must not in the felt oddly drawn to the strict, ascetic life led by
course of public life expect immediate members of some monastic orders, also N.
approbation and immediate grateful asceticism, N.
acknowledgment of our services.”
Askance (adv.) with suspicion, mistrust, or
Aquiline (adj.) shaped like an eagle's beak; disapproval
hooked Synonym: Skeptically, Suspiciously
Synonym: Curved Use: Jane looked askance at John to see if he
Hooked were watching her."
Antonym: Straight
Use: The profile of the head is slightly aquiline, Asperity (n.) harshness or sharpness of tone,
with a grey/brown muzzle. temper, or manner; severity; acrimony:
Synonym: Good temper
Arable (adj.) fit for growing crops. Antonym: Harshness
Synonym: Suitable for plaguing Kindness [GAIL]
[SAIL] Use: The cause of her anger did not warrant
Use: The first settlers wrote home growing such asperity.
reports of the New World, praising its vast
acres of arable land ready for the plow. Assent (v.) to agree or concur; subscribe to;
Synonym: Consent
Agreement [C.B.I. 1995]
Antonym: Disagree
Barbarian (n.) somebody with no interest in
B
culture, an extremely aggressive or violent
person
Synonym: Uncivilized
Antonym: Civilised
Babble (v.) to utter sounds or words Use: I think Iraqi's like being killed by Iraqi's
imperfectly, indistinctly, or without meaning, better than by foreign barbarians.
Synonym: Burble
Antonym: Quiet Barbaric (adj.) pertains to crudeness and
Use: She babbles, gurgles, giggles, sucks on
incivility,
her bottle and cries when waking up.
Synonym: Beastly, savage [HCL]

Antonym: Calm
Badger (v.) Ask again and again, Hassle, to Use: Whipping and torturing people is
harass or urge persistently; pester; nag barbaric.
Synonym: To pester persistently [IES-2008]
Antonym: Gratify, make happy, Barge (v.) a to bump into, collide with,
Use: I had to badger him into coming with us.
Synonym: Intrude

Use: He started to run away and barged into a
Baffling (adj.) Unsolved, Inexplicable passer-by.
Synonym: Mysterious
Baroque (n.) the baroque style of
Antonym: Simple [HPCL]
Use: Exactly how birds acquired the ability to architecture and art, or its period in European
fly has baffled scientists for years. history
Synonym: Flamboyant
Antonym: Simple
Balmy (adj.) Pleasant, Mild, Gentle, Soft,
Plain [Tax & Excise, 1990]
pleasantly warm and mild in climate, mild and
Use: To stay at the Hotel Ritz is to step inside a
refreshing; soft; soothing
baroque palace, an experience you won't
Synonym: Temperate
forget.
Antonym: Wintry, Hard

Use: Spain's balmy climate allows for a long
golf season. Beatific (adj.) Showing or producing joy,
Innocent, Pure, Adorable, Virtuous
Bamboozle (v.) To deceive or get the better Synonym: Saintly
of (someone) by trickery, flattery, or the like; Antonym: Dreadful
humbug; Use: When Johnny first saw the new puppy, a
Synonym: Swindle, Dupe [HPCL] beatific smile spread across his face.
Antonym: Be honest
Use: They bamboozled us into joining the club Beaver away (v.) to work hard for a long
time
Banal (adj.) Ordinary, Dull, Trivial, Facile, Synonym: persevere [IES-2008]
Commonplace, boringly ordinary and lacking in Antonym: indolent
originality, devoid of freshness or originality; Use: She has been beavering away at that essay
hackneyed; trite for hours.
Synonym: Mundane
Commonplace [SAIL] Beguile (v.) to win and hold somebody's
Antonym: Original attention, interest, or devotion, to mislead or
Use: The banal realities of the film industry deceive somebody
really do determine what we see on screen. Synonym: Bluff
Antonym: Persuade [S.S.C. 1993]
Bane (n.) Nuisance, Blight, Cause of ruin Use: Utopianism is something to which
Synonym: Curse beguiles a great many people.
Antonym: Blessing
Use: Sudha's little brother was the bane of her Beleaguer (v.) to surround or beset, as with
existence, scribbling on walls with her lipstick troubles
and pouring her shampoo down the drain. Synonym: Harras, Pester
(v.) to express great sadness about (n.) to be a non-conformist.
something, Lament, Bemoan, Regret, Grumble Synonym: unconventional [IES-1996]
about, Grieve, Deplore Antonym: usual
Synonym: Bemoan, Mourn [GAIL] Use: The actor impressed the audience with his
Antonym: Joyous, Exalt bohemian looks and behavior.
Use: His sins were not grievous, and he did not
bewail them. Boisterous (adj.) full of noisy enthusiasm
and energy, and often roughness or wildness
Bewilder (v.) to confuse or puzzle somebody Synonym: Raucous
completely Antonym: Calm, Serene
Synonym: Confound Use: She is good with children of all ages but
Antonym: Explain [BEL] might be a little too boisterous for toddlers.
Use: These shifting attitudes bewilder me.
Boorish (adj.) lack of good manners, whether
Bifurcate (v.) to be split or branched off into arising from ignorance or brashness,
two parts, or split something into two parts, unmannered; crude; insensitive
Synonym: Split, Synonym: Impolite
Antonym: Converge Antonym: Well-mannered, Refined
Use: There one finds a similar behavior in the Genteel [I.Tax & Excise, 1993]
local and the global bifurcation. Use: He was a boorish man but had a good
taste for music and brought Handel to England.
Bizzare (adj.) amusingly or grotesquely
strange or unusual, unusual Bouillon (n.) a clear liquid that is traditiona-
Synonym: Odd lly made by boiling meat, bones, and vegetables
Strange together. It is sometimes served as a soup, but
Antonym: Normal usually used as a stock for soups and
Usual [EIL] Stews
Use: He found himself in a bizarre situation. Synonym: Concoction
Clear soup [SAIL]
Blanch (v.) to become pale suddenly, decolour Use: You can use beef or chicken bouillon
cubes for seasonings.
Synonym: Bleach

Antonym: Darken
Darken [NHPC] Bowdlerise (v.) to remove parts of a work of
Use: He blanched at the mention of her name literature that are considered indecent
selectively remove
Bleak (adj.) Dreary, Depressing, Uninviting, Synonym: Ban;
Antonym: Approve, endorse
without hope or expectation of success or
Use: The editor bowdlerised those words and
improvement
expressions which cannot with propriety be
Synonym: Drab
read aloud in a family.
Antonym: Bright [NDA-2009]

Cheerful [GRE]
Use: The company's future looks bleak. Braggadocio (n.) somebody who boasts in a
swaggering self-aggrandizing way,
Blemish (n.): marks or scars on skin Synonym: Braggart
Antonym: Meekness
Synonym: disfigure, flaw [IES-2009]

Antonym: beautiful
Use: She is worried at her skin blemishes as Bravura (n.) great skill that is shown when
she is appearing for a fashion show. something artistic is done in an exciting or
innovative way, showy style or behavior
Blithe (adj.) Carefree, Casual, Unthinking, Synonym: Courage [HCL]
Antonym: Timidity
Synonym: Cheerful
Use: This is a bravura piece of filmmaking
Antonym: Cheerless [EIL]
that demands to be seen.
Use: Happy-go-lucky, Amiable Everyone loved

her for her blithe spirit.
Cacophony (n.) an unpleasant combination Frank [Steno, Exam, 1994]
of loud, often jarring sounds, Antonym: Guarded
Synonym: Dissonance Secretive [Bank P.O. 1990]
Discord [BSNL] Use: He is a candid politician
Antonym: Harmony
Cantankerous (adj.) easily angered and
Use: We were greeted by a cacophony of
difficult to get along with, difficult to work with
sound as we entered the road.
or use.

Synonym: Bad tempered [SAIL]
Cadge (v.) to scrounge or beg something from
Quarrelsome [Asstt. Grade, 1996]
somebody Cadge v. beg, mooch; panhandle.
Antonym: Pleasant
While his car was in the shop
Use: The doctor told the young man to go out
Synonym: Peddle
and find the ugliest, most cantankerous
Use: Bob had to cadge a ride to work each day,
woman he could find and marry her.
Unwiting to be a compiece moocher, however,

he offered to pay for the gas.
Capacious (adj.) big enough to contain a

large quantity,
Cajole (v.) to persuade somebody to do
Synonym: Voluminous
something by flattery or gentle but persistent
Antonym: Limited [M.B.A. 1994]
argument,
Use: Sarah promised to open the room, and at
Synonym: Coax [BEL]
the opening meeting the capacious building
Antonym: Dissuade [C.B.I. 1991]
was crowded.
Use: Cher tried to cajole her father into letting

her drive the family car cajolery.
Caprice (n.) a tendency to sudden impulsive

decisions or changes of mind, a sudden
Calamity (n.) a disastrous situation or event,
unexpected action or change of mind
misery or distress resulting from a disastrous
Synonym: Impulse
event Calarrity N. disaster, misery
Sudden change in attitude
Synonym: Catastrophe
[IES-2006]
Antonym: Boon
Antonym: Steadfastness
Use: As news of the calamity spreed, offers of
Steady behaviour [I.E.S 2008]
relief poured in to the stricken community. Use: It is not human caprice, but a principle of

public order, which controls property.
Callous (adj.) showing no concern that other
people are or might be hurt or upset, Callous Capricious (adj.) tending to make sudden
Adj. hardened; unfeeling.
unexpected changes.
Synonym: Uncaring
Synonym: Whimsical
Antonym: Warmhearted
Antonym: Predictable
Sensitive [S.S.C. 1993]
Steadfast [U.D.C. 1995]
Use: He had worked in the hospital for so many
Use: He proved utterly capricious in his
years that he was callous to the suffering in the
dealings with his friends.
wards, callus.

Carnal (adj.) fleshly is the public more
Callow (adj.) youthful; immature;
interested in carnal pleasures than in spiritual
inexperienced. As a freshman, Jack was sure he
matters?
was a man of the world; as a sophomore, he
Synonym: Sensual
made fun of freshmen as callow youths.
Antonym: Chaste [IES-2009]
Synonym: Immature [MTNL]
Spiritual
Antonym: Sophisticated
Use: Compare the number of people who road
Use: In both cases, his judgment showed just
Playboy daily to the number of those who read
how callow he was.
the Bible every day.

Candid (adj.) honest or direct in a way that
Castigation (v.) to criticize or rebuke
people find either refreshing or distasteful,
somebody or somebody's behavior severely,
forthright, straightforward.
Chastisement,
.Synonym: Outspoken [GAIL]
Synonym: Reprimand [BSNL]
Use: scold, Grendma began to chide Steven for Clemency (n.) to forgive the guilt done
his lying. Synonym: mercy, compassion [IES-2009]
Antonym: harsh
Chivalrous (adj.) relating to or reflecting the Use: The clemency petition of the war criminal
values of the medieval code of knighthood, has been rejected.
especially courtesy, self-sacrifice, and a sense of
fair play, Classterphobia (n.) fear of being locked in.
Synonym: Gallant Synonym: Fear of closed places [HPCL]
Antonym: Boorish Use: His fellow classmates laughed at his
Use: Essentially, you start off as a lowly squire claustrophobia and often threatened to lock him
and work your way up the ladders of society by in his room.
performing chivalrous deeds.
Clique (n.) a close group of friends or
Choleric (adj.) showing or tending to show coworkers with similar interests and goals,
anger or irritation, whom outsiders regard as excluding them
Synonym: Irritable [VIZAG] Ctique N. small, exclusive group.
Antonym: Calm Synonym: Elite
Even-tempered [IES-2006] Use: Fitzgerald wished that he belonged to the
Use: He has a highly choleric temperament crique of popular athletes and big men on
campus who seemed to run Princeton’s social
Churlish (adj.) characteristic of somebody life.
with bad manners, Churlish Adj. boorish;
rude. Coerce (v.) to make somebody do something
Synonym: Rude against his or her will by using force or threats
Impolite [EIL] Synonym: Compel
Antonym: Courteous Force [NHPC]
Polite [Tax & Excise, 1990] Antonym: Persuade
Use: Dismayed by his churlish manners at the Use: A leader doesn't coerce people into
party, the girls vowed never to invite him again. change that they resist.

Circuitous (adj.) lengthy because very Cogent (adj.) to use effective language
indirect, Synonym: compelling
Synonym: Roundabout Antonym: unconvincing, ineffective[IES-2000]
Indirect [BSNL] Use: She argued most cogently for a relaxation
Antonym: Direct of the sanctions.
Use: Rivers are often uneven, untidy and take
circuitous courses. Cogitate (v.) to think deeply and carefully

about something.
Circumspect (adj.) Judicious, Vigilant, Synonym: Consider
watchful and discreet; prudent, circumspect To think deeply about something
behavior, well-considered [IES-2005]
Synonym: Cautious Antonym: Ignore
Antonym: Reckless Use: The philosopher cogitated about the
Use: Circumspect Adj. Prudent; Investigating meaning of life very deeply.
before acting. She tried always to be
circumspect. Cognizance (n.) knowledge or awareness of

something, the extent or range of what
Clandestine (adj.) needing to be concealed, somebody can know and understand Cognizance
usually because it is illegal or unauthorized N. knowledge.
Clandestine (adj). Secret. Synonym:Knowledge [SAIL]
Synonym: Secret [EIL] Antonym: Ignorance
Antonym: Open Use: During the election campaign, the two
Use: After avoiding their chaperon, the lovers candidates were kept in full cognizance of the
had a clandestine meeting international situation.
Synonym: exhaustive personal use as if with authority, to seize
Antonym: superficial, selective. [IES-1996] property legally forfeited to the public treasury
Use: The taxation reforms initiated are as a penalty.
comprehensive in nature and scope. Synonym: Impound
Deize
Conciliatory (adj.) tending to conciliate: a To seize by authority [SSC]
conciliatory manner; conciliatory comments. Antonym: Restore
resolve differences, to work with opposing Use: The goods were confiscated by customs.
parties with the goal of bringing them to an
agreement or reconciliation, Conjecture (n.) the formation of judgments
Synonym: Foolish [UPSC] or opinions on the basis of incomplete or
Antonym: Provocative inconclusive information.
Use: He has not seen the need to change his Synonym: Guess [HCL]
ways or become more conciliatory. Antonym: Fact
Use: The origin of this ritual is a matter of
Concise (adj.) precise and relevant. conjecture.
Synonym: nutshell
Connoisseur (n.) a person who is especially
Antonym: verbose; elucidate. [IES-1995]
competent to pass critical judgments in an art,
Use: The answers written in the exam were
particularly one of the fine arts, or in matters of
concise.
taste

Synonym: Expert Authority, Specialist
Concoct (v.) prepare by combining; make up
Lover of art [EIL]
in concert.
Lover of art [Railways, 1996]
Synonym: Formulate
Antonym: Ignoramus
Invent [VIZAG]
Use: I am becoming a connoisseur of these
Use: How did the inversive chef ever concoct
sermons over the years.
such a strange dish? Concoction. n.

Concur (v.) to have the same opinion as Connubial (adj.) relating to marriage,
somebody else, or reach agreement Synonym: Nuptial [HPCL]
independently on a specific point, Antonym: Divorce
Synonym: Agree Use: Conjugal Marriages in youth are more
Antonym: Conflict likely to produce connubial happiness.
Use: We are in broad agreement with the
recommendations and are happy to concur Consanguinity (n.) relationship by descent
with the conclusions on the key issues as from the same ancestor, and not by marriage or
identified. affinity, a close relationship or connection
Synonym: Kinship
Condign (adj.) well deserved and completely Use: Issues of consanguinity arise in several
appropriate, Condign Adj. appropriate; aspects of the law; it is directly relevant in
deserved (almost always, in the sense of determining whether a couple can marry.
deservedly severe, as in condign punishment).
Use: To be concerned about a possible Conscientious (adj.) controlled by or done
miscarriage of justice is rational; to brood over a according to conscience; scrupulous, meticulous;
guilty man’s just and condign punishment careful; pains-taking; particular, Meticulous,
makes no sense. Hard-working,
Synonym: Careful [IES-1993]
Confirm (v.) to validate Thorough
Synonym: ratify. Diligent
Antonym: deny, reject. [IES-1997] Antonym: Careless
Use: The presence of untested chemicals was Use: He is a conscientious worker.
confirmed by the inspectors.
Conservation (n.) protection of flora, fauna
Confiscate (v.) to take somebody's property or monuments
with authority, or appropriate property for Synonym: preservation [IES-2002]