English Vocabulary - Archives

For each word, you will get the meaning and the root of the word and synonyms and antonyms for the word. For each word, you will also get a simple sentence which uses the word. These sentences help you understand the usage of the words.

BABEL (noun)

Meaning
confused mixture of noises or voices
Root of the word
-
Synonyms
clamour, din, racket, tumult, babble, coronation
Antonyms
silence
Usage
The babel caused by the raucous grunts of automobiles was cacophonous to the ears.

BACCHANALIAN (adj)

Meaning
drunken
Root of the word
-
Synonyms
revelling, unruly
Antonyms
restrained
Usage
After their team won the league matches, the supporters indulged in Bacchanalian revelry.

BACKWASH (noun)

Meaning
the unpleasant result of an event
Root of the word
-
Synonyms
repercussions, reverberations, after-effects, aftermath, fallout, upshot, consequences, results, eff
Antonyms
-
Usage
The backwash of a nuclear explosion is felt several years after it has occurred.

BADINAGE (noun)

Meaning
a humorous or light-hearted conversation that often involves teasing
Root of the word
-
Synonyms
banter, repartee, wordplay, raillery, wit, witticisms, ripostes, sallies, quips
Antonyms
-
Usage
He often engaged in friendly badinage with his colleagues in order to lighten the atmosphere.

BALDERDASH (noun)

Meaning
senseless talk.
Root of the word
-
Synonyms
nonsense, rubbish, gibberish
Antonyms
-
Usage
Critics dismissed his work as a useless piece of balderdash.

BALEFUL (adj)

Meaning
causing or threatening to cause harm
Root of the word
-
Synonyms
menacing, threatening, unfriendly, hostile, antagonistic, evil, nasty, bitter
Antonyms
benevolent, friendly
Usage
Intimidated by the robber's baleful looks, the travellers handed over their valuables to him without protest.

BALMY (adj)

Meaning
pleasantly warm
Root of the word
-
Synonyms
mild, gentle, summery, calm, tranquil
Antonyms
harsh, wintry
Usage
It was a balmy and redolent spring morning and the weather was just ideal to go for a picnic.

BANDY (verb)

Meaning
mentioned frequently by many people
Root of the word
-
Synonyms
spread (about/around), put about, toss about, discuss, rumour, circulate, disseminate, communicate,
Antonyms
-
Usage
His name was bandied about in social circles as one of the most eligible bachelors.

BARE-FACED (adj)

Meaning
done openly and without shame
Root of the word
-
Synonyms
flagrant, blatant, glaring, obvious, undisguised, unconcealed, overt, open, transparent, patent, evi
Antonyms
-
Usage
We were shocked by his bare-faced audacity.

BAROQUE (adj)

Meaning
showy and very ornate
Root of the word
-
Synonyms
ornate, fancy, extravagant, ostentatious, showy
Antonyms
-
Usage
Michael Angelo, the famous Italian painter was famous for the baroque paintings of the Sistine Chapel.

BARRING (prep)

Meaning
except-for, if not for.
Root of the word
-
Synonyms
with the exception of, excepting, discounting, short of, apart from, but for, other than, aside from
Antonyms
-
Usage
Barring a few stray incidents of violence, the strife-torn city was more or less peaceful.

BAUBLE (noun)

Meaning
a showy trinket or decoration
Root of the word
-
Synonyms
trinket, knick-knack, ornament, toy, novelty, gimmick
Antonyms
-
Usage
Unlike other young women of her age, Nina is not interested in decking herself up with baubles or other accessories.

BEATIFIC (adj)

Meaning
feeling or expressing blissful happiness or joy
Root of the word
-
Synonyms
rapturous, joyful, ecstatic, seraphic, blissful, serene, happy, glad
Antonyms
-
Usage
The beatific expression on his face revealed that he had managed to clinch the deal.

BEDECKED (adj)

Meaning
to decorate somebody or something with flowers, flags, jewels etc.
Root of the word
-
Synonyms
decorated, adorned, ornamented, trimmed, decked, enhanced, beautified, embellished, furnished, garni
Antonyms
-
Usage
The city was bedecked with flags and festoons on Independence Day.

BEDLAM (noun)

Meaning
a scene of great confusion and noise.
Root of the word
-
Synonyms
uproar, pandemonium, mayhem, commotion, confusion, unrest, furore, upheaval, turmoil, riot, ruckus,
Antonyms
calm
Usage
The crowd was arrested by the police for causing bedlam at the public place.

BEDROCK (noun)

Meaning
the central principles on which something is based
Root of the word
-
Synonyms
core, base, basis, foundation, root, heart, backbone, essence
Antonyms
-
Usage
Honesty and mutual trust form the bedrock of a lasting relationship.

BEFOGGED (adj)

Meaning
totally confused.
Root of the word
-
Synonyms
muddled, fuddled, befuddled, addled, groggy, dizzy, muzzy
Antonyms
-
Usage
Lack of proper sleep can make a person befogged and petulant.

BEGRUDGE (verb)

Meaning
envy
Root of the word
-
Synonyms
jealous
Antonyms
-
Usage
Do not begrudge John his affluence.

BEGUILE (verb)

Meaning
to trick somebody into doing something especially by being nice to them
Root of the word
be - to make, to have a certain quality, guile= deceive
Synonyms
charm, attract, entrance, win over, woo, captivate, bewitch, spellbind, dazzle, blind, hypnotize, me
Antonyms
repel
Usage
He was so beguiled by her charm that he failed to understand that her intention was to deceive him.

BEHOLDEN (adj)

Meaning
bound in gratitude
Root of the word
Synonyms
indebted, obligated, obliged, bound, duty-bound, honour - bound, grateful, thankful, appreciative.
Antonyms
-
Usage
She was a self-respecting person and did not like to be beholden to anyone.

BEHOVE (verb)

Meaning
it is right or necessary for somebody to do something
Root of the word
-
Synonyms
be incumbent on, be obligatory for, be required of, be appropriate for, be expected of, be advisable
Antonyms
-
Usage
It behoves us to call on him when he is sick.

BELEAGUERED (adj)

Meaning
to be in difficulties, harassed
Root of the word
-
Synonyms
persecuted, tormented, troubled, beset, hard-pressed, pestered, plagued, vexed
Antonyms
-
Usage
Several governmental and voluntary organisations came forward to offer assistance to the beleaguered victims of the tsunami.

BELIE (verb)

Meaning
contradict, give the lie to
Root of the word
be = to make, to, to have a certain quality
Synonyms
disprove
Antonyms
vindicated
Usage
The fond parents' hopes were belied when their son failed in his exams.

BELITTLE (verb)

Meaning
disparage
Root of the word
be = to make, to have a certain quality
Synonyms
decry, demean, deride
Antonyms
praise
Usage
Belittling children in front of others lowers their confidence.

BELLIGERENT (adj)

Meaning
aggressive
Root of the word
belli/bellu = war, fight
Synonyms
bellicose, warlike, pugnacious, quarrelsome
Antonyms
peaceful, quiet, agreeable, placid, calm, composed
Usage
His belligerent nature makes people wary of him.

BEMOAN (verb)

Meaning
lament
Root of the word
be = to make, to have a certain quality
Synonyms
bewail, regret, mourn
Antonyms
applaud
Usage
The captain bemoaned that he seldom got advice from the coach.

BENEVOLENT (adj)

Meaning
kind
Root of the word
vol = wish, will
Synonyms
generous, caring, compassionate, giving, benign
Antonyms
malevolent
Usage
The benevolent king distributed his wealth among the poor.

BENIGHTED (adj)

Meaning
lost in intellectual or moral darkness, ignorant
Root of the word
-
Synonyms
ignorant, unenlightened, uneducated, unschooled, untutored, illiterate, unlettered, unscholarly, unr
Antonyms
enlightened
Usage
Education alone can uplift the benighted peasant folk.

BENIGN (adj)

Meaning
cheerful and kindly
Root of the word
-
Synonyms
kindly, kind, warm-hearted, good-natured, friendly, warm, affectionate, agreeable
Antonyms
unfriendly, hostile
Usage
The hostess greeted us with a benign smile.

BEQUEATH (verb)

Meaning
leave property by a will
Root of the word
be = to make, to, to have a certain quality
Synonyms
give, bestow on, donate, will
Antonyms
take
Usage
The old man did not bequeath his wealth to his wayward sons.

BERATE (verb)

Meaning
to criticize or speak angrily to somebody because you do not approve of something he/she has done
Root of the word
-
Synonyms
rebuke, reprimand, reproach, reprove, admonish
Antonyms
praise
Usage
The master berated the servant for not doing his job properly.

BEREFT (adj)

Meaning
deprived of, without
Root of the word
-
Synonyms
devoid, deprived, robbed
Antonyms
filled with
Usage
His statements are bereft of any truth.

BESOTTED (adj)

Meaning
to be in love in an irrational and intense way, to be infatuated with
Root of the word
-
Synonyms
infatuated with, smitten with, in love with, passionate about, captivated by, enchanted by, enthrall
Antonyms
indifferent
Usage
The gullible girl was so besotted by the glib talker's charm that she failed to see his true colours. She was so besotted by his impeccable manners and gallant behaviour that she failed to understand his true colours.

BEWILDERING (adj)

Meaning
difficult to understand
Root of the word
-
Synonyms
baffling, perplexing, puzzling, mystifying, confusing
Antonyms
straight forward, comprehensible
Usage
The bewildering array of jewellery displayed in the shop made my choice very difficult.

BEWITCHED (verb)

Meaning
attracted and delighted by something
Root of the word
-
Synonyms
captivate, enchanted, entranced, enraptured, charmed, beguiled, delighted, fascinated
Antonyms
repelled
Usage
The tourists were bewitched by the idyllic surroundings and the tranquility of the place.

BIBLICAL (adj)

Meaning
of or related to the Bible
Root of the word
biblio = book
Synonyms
-
Antonyms
-
Usage
Biblical quotations have a charm of their own.

BIDDABLE (adj)

Meaning
obedient
Root of the word
-
Synonyms
tractable, amenable, pliable, pliant, complaisant, cooperative, malleable, persuadable, manipulable
Antonyms
disobedient, uncooperative
Usage
His biddable servant was always at his beck and call, ready to take orders.

BILATERAL (adj)

Meaning
involving two parties
Root of the word
lat = side
Synonyms
mutual, joint
Antonyms
-
Usage
There is an urgent need for bilateral talks between India and Pakistan.

BILIOUS (adj)

Meaning
bad-tempered, full of anger
Root of the word
-
Synonyms
irritable, irascible, testy, grumpy, grouchy, crotchety, cantankerous, curmudgeonly, ill-tempered, p
Antonyms
muted, subtle
Usage
Being a thoroughly bilious person, he does not get along with anyone.

BIOPSY (noun)

Meaning
an examination of tissue taken from the body to discover the presence of a disease.
Root of the word
bio = life
Synonyms
-
Antonyms
autopsy, post mortem
Usage
After the biopsy, the surgeon declared that the patient was not suffering from cancer.

BLANDISHMENTS (noun)

Meaning
flattery intended to persuade or coax
Root of the word
-
Synonyms
flattery, cajolery, coaxing, wheedling, blarney, fawning
Antonyms
-
Usage
There are very few children who do not yield to blandishments.

BLASE (adj)

Meaning
unenthusiastic about
Root of the word
-
Synonyms
indifferent to, uninterested in, uncaring about, apathetic towards.
Antonyms
-
Usage
Over the years he adopted a rather blasé attitude towards luxury and good life.

BLAZON (noun)

Meaning
display or describe prominently.
Root of the word
-
Synonyms
display, exhibit, show, present, spread, emblazon, plaster, flaunt, parade, reveal.
Antonyms
-
Usage
The company's name and logo was blazoned on all the sign boards around the sporting arena.

BLENCH (verb)

Meaning
flinch suddenly through fear or pain.
Root of the word
-
Synonyms
flinch, start, shy (away), recoil, shrink, pull back, back away, draw back, cringe, wince, quiver.
Antonyms
-
Usage
She was so intimidated by him that she blenched at the very mention of his name.

BLINKERED (adj)

Meaning
cause to have a narrow outlook
Root of the word
-
Synonyms
narrow-minded, limited, restricted, conventional, parochial, provincial, insular, localist, petty
Antonyms
broad-minded
Usage
A person with a blinkered approach to things cannot accomplish much in life.

BLITHE (adj)

Meaning
without thought or care.
Root of the word
-
Synonyms
heedless, uncaring, careless, casual, indifferent, thoughtless, unconcerned, unworried, untroubled,
Antonyms
careful
Usage
Many youngsters drive recklessly on the roads with blithe disregard for the traffic rules.

BLOWSY (adj)

Meaning
(of a woman) coarse, untidy, and red-faced.
Root of the word
-
Synonyms
untidy, sloppy, scruffy, messy, dishevelled, slovenly, sluttish, slatternly, tousled, unkempt, frowz
Antonyms
tidy, respectable
Usage
The warden was a blowsy woman of 40, and a bit of a martinet.

BLUSTERY (adj)

Meaning
stormy, loud and noisy
Root of the word
-
Synonyms
stormy, gusty, gusting, windy, squally, wild, rough, raging, tempestuous, turbulent, violent
Antonyms
calm, still
Usage
As the night was dark and blustery, we decided to halt at a nearby inn and resume our journey the next morning.

BOISTEROUS (adj)

Meaning
noisy, lively and high spirited
Root of the word
-
Synonyms
lively, active, animated, exuberant, spirited, bouncy, frisky, clamorous
Antonyms
quiet, restrained
Usage
It was quite a challenge for the teacher, to discipline a class of twenty boisterous children.

BOMBAST (noun)

Meaning
high-sounding language with little meaning
Root of the word
-
Synonyms
bluster, pomposity, ranting, empty talk, verbosity, turgidity pretentiousness, grandiloquence
Antonyms
plain speaking
Usage
She kept on bragging about herself through out the journey and the other passengers could not tolerate her bombast.

BONAFIDE (adj)

Meaning
genuine
Root of the word
ben/bon = good
Synonyms
authentic, real, true
Antonyms
malefide
Usage
He is a bonafide student of our college.

BONHOMIE (noun)

Meaning
geniality
Root of the word
ben/bon = good; homo = human-beings
Synonyms
camaraderie
Antonyms
enmity, hostility
Usage
The work environment in the office is fantastic. Such bonhomie is a rarity in professional situations.

BOOMERANG (verb)

Meaning
if a plan boomerangs on somebody, it hurts them instead of the person it was intended to hurt; an act ot utterance that backfires on its originator
Root of the word
-
Synonyms
backfire, recoil, reverse, rebound, come back, spring back, return, ricochet, have an adverse effect
Antonyms
-
Usage
Much to his disappointment, his plan to harm his opponents boomeranged on him.

BOOTLEG (adj)

Meaning
made and sold illegally
Root of the word
-
Synonyms
illegal, illicit, unlawful, unauthorized, unsanctioned, unlicensed, unofficial, pirated, contraband,
Antonyms
-
Usage
The police nabbed the culprits who were caught selling bootleg VCDs, surreptitiously.

BOURGEOIS (adj)

Meaning
having to do with the middle class, especially in being conventional and concerned with wealth.
Root of the word
-
Synonyms
middle-class, property owning, propertied, conventional, traditional, conservative, conformist
Antonyms
proletarian, unconventional.
Usage
He accused them of having a bourgeois mentality and a parochial outlook.

BOWDLERIZED (adj)

Meaning
edit heavily
Root of the word
-
Synonyms
censored, expurgated
Antonyms
-
Usage
The great works of Shakespeare had been bowdlerized by some self appointed moralists.

BOYCOTT (verb and noun)

Meaning
stay away from
Root of the word
-
Synonyms
shun, avoid, spurn, snub
Antonyms
support, approve of
Usage
The opposition party decided to boycott the proceedings of the assembly in order to express their dissidence.

BRAGGART (noun)

Meaning
a person who brags
Root of the word
-
Synonyms
boaster, blusterer, trumpeter, swaggerer, poser, egotist
Antonyms
-
Usage
Besides being an unendurable bore, he is also a an insufferable braggart.

BRAVADO (noun)

Meaning
false show of confidence, boldness intended to impress or intimidate
Root of the word
-
Synonyms
arrogance, bluster, braggadocio, machismo, swagger
Antonyms
humility, modesty, restraint
Usage
Such bravado will lower your esteem among your friends. He made a desperate attempt to display his bravado in the presence of the girls of his class.

BRAVURA (adj)

Meaning
skilful, outstanding
Root of the word
-
Synonyms
virtuoso, magnificent, exceptional, excellent, superb, brilliant
Antonyms
mediocre
Usage
The soprano's bravura performance was appreciated by the discerning audience.

BRAWN (noun)

Meaning
physical strength as opposed to intelligence
Root of the word
-
Synonyms
physical strength, muscularity, burliness, huskiness
Antonyms
weakness, puniness
Usage
The job was a test of one's brawn rather than of one's brain.

BRAZEN (adv)

Meaning
bold and shameless
Root of the word
-
Synonyms
unashamed, unabashed, defiant, impudent, insolent, impertinent, blatant
Antonyms
timid, shy
Usage
People were shocked by the criminal's effrontery and brazen defiance of the law.

BREAKNECK (adj)

Meaning
very fast and dangerous.
Root of the word
-
Synonyms
extremely fast, high-speed, lightning, whirlwind, rapid, speedy, dangerously fast, reckless, dangero
Antonyms
-
Usage
The old beggar was knocked down by a vehicle coming at breakneck speed, while she was crossing the road.

BREEZY (adj)

Meaning
having or showing a cheerful and relaxed manner.
Root of the word
-
Synonyms
jaunty, cheerful, brisk, airy, carefree, easy-going, causal, relaxed, informal, light-hearted, livel
Antonyms
-
Usage
Although she is generally breezy and cheerful, today she seems to be unusually sullen.

BREVITY (noun)

Meaning
shortness
Root of the word
brev = short
Synonyms
conciseness, concision, succinctness, pithiness, terseness, briefness
Antonyms
verbosity, garrulity
Usage
Brevity is the soul of wit.

BRUNT (noun)

Meaning
the chief impact of something bad
Root of the word
-
Synonyms
full force, impact, shock, burden, pressure, strain, stress, thrust, weight, violence, effect, reper
Antonyms
-
Usage
Her family often bore the brunt of her mood swings and frustrations.

BRUSQUE (adj)

Meaning
abrupt or offhand
Root of the word
-
Synonyms
curt, blunt, short, sharp, terse, brisk
Antonyms
polite, verbose
Usage
People resented his brusque manners and lack of decorum.

BUGBEAR (noun)

Meaning
cause of anxiety or irritation
Root of the word
-
Synonyms
hate, bane, irritation, dislike, anathema, aversion
Antonyms
-
Usage
Adherence to tradition is a bugbear to present day youth.

BULLISH (adj)

Meaning
aggressively confident
Root of the word
-
Synonyms
optimistic, hopeful, buoyant, positive, disposed to look on the bright side, sanguine, confident, ch
Antonyms
pessimistic
Usage
He was bullish about his chances of winning the election.

BULWARK (noun)

Meaning
a person or thing that protects or defends something
Root of the word
-
Synonyms
protector, protection, guard, defence, defender, support, prop, buttress, mainstay, bastion, safegua
Antonyms
-
Usage
Unity among the people of the nation acts as a bulwark against terrorism.

BUMPTIOUS (adj)

Meaning
self-confident or proud in an annoying way
Root of the word
-
Synonyms
conceited, arrogant, self-assertive, pompous, overbearing, swaggering, strutting, presumptuous
Antonyms
self-effacing
Usage
Her bumptious nature earned her the epithet, 'Madam Know-it-All'.

BUNGLE (verb)

Meaning
to do something badly or without skill, to fail at something.
Root of the word
-
Synonyms
mishandle, mismanage, mess up, spoil, mar, ruin.
Antonyms
succeed in, manage successfully
Usage
The entire job was bungled by a bunch of incompetent workers.

BUOY (verb)

Meaning
to make someone feel happier or more confident about a situation.
Root of the word
-
Synonyms
cheer, cheer up, brighten, ginger up, hearten, rally, animate, invigorate, comfort, uplift, lift, en
Antonyms
depress
Usage
Although she had been depressed for quite some time, she was buoyed by the company of her friends.

BURSARY (noun)

Meaning
financial support
Root of the word
burs = money, purse
Synonyms
support, money, grant, endowment, backing
Antonyms
-
Usage
Please meet the bursar and collect your bursary.

BYWORD (noun)

Meaning
a notable example of something.
Root of the word
-
Synonyms
perfect example of, classic case of, model of, exemplar of, embodiment of, incarnation of
Antonyms
-
Usage
Most government officials have become the byword for venality.