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.

SABOTAGE (noun)

Meaning
deliberately destroy or damage
Root of the word
-
Synonyms
disruption, spoiling, ruining, wrecking, undermining, filibustering, impairment, damage, subversion
Antonyms
-
Usage
The conspiracy to assasinate the President was sabotaged.

SACCHARINE (adj)

Meaning
of sickly sweetness
Root of the word
-
Synonyms
sentimental, over-sentimental, over-emotional, mawkish, cloying, sickly, sugary, sickening, nauseati
Antonyms
-
Usage
She greeted me with a saccharine smile.

SACRILEGIOUS (adj)

Meaning
treating something sacred or highly valued with great disrespect
Root of the word
-
Synonyms
profane, blasphemous, impious, sinful, irreverent, irreligious, godless, ungodly, unholy, disrespect
Antonyms
pious, respectful
Usage
Entering the precincts of a holy place with footwear is considered sacrilegious.

SACROSANCT (adj)

Meaning
sacred
Root of the word
sacr/sanct = sacred, holy, inviolable
Synonyms
untouchable, holy, invidable
Antonyms
impious
Usage
This school considers the rights of children sacrosanct.

SADDLE (verb)

Meaning
to encumber, to impose upon (someone) as a burden or encumbrance.
Root of the word
-
Synonyms
burden, encumber, lumber, hamper, weigh down, land, charge, inflict something on, thrust.
Antonyms
-
Usage
Having incurred heavy losses in his business, he was saddled with a huge debt.

SAGA (noun)

Meaning
a long story about events over a period of many years.
Root of the word
-
Synonyms
epic, chronicle, legend, folk tale, romance, traditional story, history, narrative, adventure, fair
Antonyms
-
Usage
The saga of the 18th century feudalistic regime makes for poignant reading.

SALIENT (adj)

Meaning
most important or noticeable.
Root of the word
-
Synonyms
important, main, principal, major, chief, primary, notable, noteworthy, outstanding, arresting, cons
Antonyms
-
Usage
She tried to recollect all the salient points of the discussion.

SALLOW (adj)

Meaning
having a slightly yellow colour that does not look healthy.
Root of the word
-
Synonyms
yellowish, jaundiced, pallid, wan, pale, waxen, anaemic, bloodless, colourless, pasty, sickly, peaky
Antonyms
-
Usage
Her sunken cheeks and sallow complexion indicated that she was unwell.

SALLY (noun)

Meaning
a sudden charge out of a place surrounded by an enemy
Root of the word
-
Synonyms
charge, sortie, foray, thrust, drive, offensive, attack, raid, assault, descent, blitz
Antonyms
-
Usage
We were caught unawares when the enemy troops made a sally against our military deployment.

SALUBRIOUS (adj)

Meaning
good for one's health
Root of the word
-
Synonyms
healthy, beneficial, wholesome
Antonyms
unhealthy
Usage
The salubrious climate of the city had a therapeutic effect on her frail health.

SALUTARY (adj)

Meaning
producing good effects; beneficial.
Root of the word
-
Synonyms
beneficial, advantageous, profitable, productive, helpful, useful, valuable, worthwhile, practical
Antonyms
unwelcome
Usage
The incident was a salutary reminder of the danger involved in flouting the laws of safety.

SANATORIUM (noun)

Meaning
hospital, nursing home
Root of the word
san = healthy, sound
Synonyms
infirmary, health resort, clinic, hospice
Antonyms
-
Usage
He is being treated for cancer in a sanatorium in the U.S.

SANCTIMONIOUS (adj)

Meaning
self-righteous
Root of the word
sacr/sanct = sacred, holy
Synonyms
smug, pious, holier-than-thou
Antonyms
humble
Usage
The sanctimonious speech of the holy man infuriated the large gathering.

SANCTITY (noun)

Meaning
the state of being very important and worthy of great respect.
Root of the word
sacr/sanct = sacred, holy
Synonyms
blessedness, inviolability, sacredness, purity
Antonyms
-
Usage
The sanctity of the holy place was destroyed by vandals indulging in nefarious activities.

SANCTUM (noun)

Meaning
a sacred place.
Root of the word
-
Synonyms
holy place, shrine, sanctuary, altar, inner sanctum
Antonyms
-
Usage
I experienced a feeling of absolute serenity as I entered the sanctum of the temple.

SANGFROID (noun)

Meaning
the ability to stay calm in difficult circumstances
Root of the word
-
Synonyms
composure, equanimity, equilibrium, aplomb, poise
Antonyms
perturbation
Usage
The teacher displayed considerable sangfroid in tackling the difficult situation.

SARDONIC (adj)

Meaning
showing that you think you are better than other people and do not take them seriously
Root of the word
-
Synonyms
mocking, satirical, sarcastic, ironical, scornful, contemptuous
Antonyms
nice, kind, mild
Usage
I could discern from his sardonic tone that he was a conceited individual.

SATURNINE (adj)

Meaning
serious or gloomy
Root of the word
-
Synonyms
somber, melancholic, dour, glum, morose
Antonyms
cheerful, jovial
Usage
His usually cheerful countenance has a saturnine expression indicating that something was seriously wrong. His saturnine nature puts me off.

SAUNTER (verb)

Meaning
to walk in a leisurely manner, to wander about without purpose
Root of the word
-
Synonyms
stroll, amble, wander, meander, drift, maunder, walk, ramble, promenade
Antonyms
-
Usage
Having a lot of time at our disposal, since the flight was delayed, we sauntered about the airport lounge aimlessly.

SAVANT (noun)

Meaning
a very knowledgeable person
Root of the word
-
Synonyms
intellectual, scholar, sage, philosopher, thinker
Antonyms
ignoramus, fool
Usage
He was a savant and could speak extempore on any subject.

SAVOIR FAIRE (noun)

Meaning
the ability to act appropriately in social situations, the faculty of knowing just what to do and how to do it
Root of the word
Synonyms
social skill, social grace, urbanity, urbaneness, suaveness, suavity, finesse, sophistication, poise
Antonyms
awkwardness, gaucheness
Usage
She had the savoir faire which came from an excellent upbringing and good education. He was a charismatic personality who could charm people with his rare distinction and savoir faire.

SAVOUR (verb)

Meaning
enjoy or appreciate to the full.
Root of the word
-
Synonyms
relish, enjoy, taste to the full, appreciate, delight in, take pleasure in, revel in, luxuriate in,
Antonyms
-
Usage
Although she served us a humble meal, we savoured every morsel with great relish.

SCHEMING (adj)

Meaning
often planning secretly to do something for your own advantage, especially by deceiving other people.
Root of the word
-
Synonyms
cunning, crafty, calculating, devious, designing, conniving, wily, sly, tricky, artful, guileful, sl
Antonyms
-
Usage
She was too gullible and unsuspecting to understand his scheming nature.

SCHISM (noun)

Meaning
a breach especially in the unity of an organization or society
Root of the word
-
Synonyms
division, split, rift, breach, rupture, break, separation, severance, estrangement, alienation
Antonyms
mainstream, orthodox
Usage
The company seems to be on the brink of a schism due to differences of opinion between the board of directors.

SCHISMATIC (adj)

Meaning
a group or organization dividing into two groups as a result of differences in thinking and beliefs.
Root of the word
-
Synonyms
separatist, heterodox, dissident, dissentient, dissenting, heretical, breakaway, splinter.
Antonyms
mainstream, orthodox
Usage
The consolidation of schismatic religious movements over the years has triggered off terrorist activities in many parts of the world.

SCINTILLA (noun)

Meaning
the slightest amount of something.
Root of the word
-
Synonyms
particle, iota, jot, whit, atom, speck, bit, trace, ounce, shred, crumb, morsel, fragment, grain
Antonyms
-
Usage
There is not a scintilla of evidence to prove that he is guilty.

SCINTILLATING (adj)

Meaning
brilliant and exciting.
Root of the word
-
Synonyms
sparkling, clever, brilliant, dazzling, flashing, lively, sparkling, vivacious, witty.
Antonyms
-
Usage
The audience listened to his scintillating speech with rapt attention.

SCION (noun)

Meaning
a descendant of a notable family.
Root of the word
-
Synonyms
descendant, offshoot, heir, successor, child, issue, offspring.
Antonyms
-
Usage
Being the scion of a wealthy aristocratic family, he is known for his patrician hauteur.

SCORNFUL (adj)

Meaning
showing or feeling contempt
Root of the word
-
Synonyms
contemptuous, derisive, derisory, withering, mocking, scoffing, sneering, scathing, snide, disparagi
Antonyms
admiring, respectful
Usage
I was taken aback by her scornful remarks

SCRIMMAGE (noun

Meaning
a confused struggle or fight.
Root of the word
-
Synonyms
fight, battle, struggle, tussle, brawl, fracas, rumpus, melee, free-for-all, rough and tumble.
Antonyms
-
Usage
Several people were injured in the scrimmage which ensued between the two rival groups.

SCRUTINY (noun)

Meaning
close and critical examination
Root of the word
-
Synonyms
survey, scan, investigation
Antonyms
glance, cursory look
Usage
On close scrutiny it was revealed that the evidence was doctored.

SCUD (verb)

Meaning
move fast because it is driven by wind.
Root of the word
-
Synonyms
speed, race, sail, streak, shoot, sweep, skim, whip, whiz, whoosh, buzz, zoom, flash, blast, scurry,
Antonyms
-
Usage
Dark monsoon clouds scudding across the sky indicated the onset of the rainy season.

SCUPPER (verb)

Meaning
to cause somebody or something to fail
Root of the word
-
Synonyms
ruin, wreck , destroy, devastate, wreak havoc on, damage, spoil, mar, injure, blast, blight, smash,
Antonyms
further, promote
Usage
Our plan to go to the seaside for a picnic was scuppered by the untimely rain.

SCURRILOUS (adj)

Meaning
very rude and insulting and intended to damage somebody's reputation
Root of the word
-
Synonyms
abusive, vituperative, derogatory, disparaging, denigratory
Antonyms
-
Usage
The official filed a defamation suit against the press for the scurrilous attack on his character.

SCURRY (noun)

Meaning
a situation of hurried and confused movement.
Root of the word
-
Synonyms
rush, race, dash, run, sprint, scamper, scuttle, scramble, bustle, trot, hurry.
Antonyms
stroll
Usage
There was a scurry to get out when people came to know that a bomb was planted in the theatre.

SEAR (verb)

Meaning
to cause somebody to feel sudden and great pain
Root of the word
-
Synonyms
distress, grieve, sadden, make miserable/wretched, upset, trouble, harrow, cause anguish to, afflict
Antonyms
-
Usage
Seared by pangs of guilt for the sin he had committed, he promised to make amends.

SECTARIAN (adj)

Meaning
related to a sect or group
Root of the word
sec/sect = cut
Synonyms
bigoted, dogmatic, partial
Antonyms
-
Usage
Modern-day politicians wilfully indulge in sectarian politics.

SEDATE (adj)

Meaning
calm, staid, dignified
Root of the word
sed/sid/sess = sit, settle
Synonyms
serene, tranquilize, calm, demure, cool
Antonyms
agitated
Usage
He is a sedate man.

SEDENTARY (adj)

Meaning
inactive
Root of the word
sed/sid/sess = sit, settle
Synonyms
deskbound, sitting
Antonyms
active
Usage
A sedentary job could lead to many health problems.

SEDITION (noun)

Meaning
incitement to rebellion
Root of the word
se = apart, away
Synonyms
treason, agitation, subversion, rabble-rousing, troublemaking
Antonyms
obedience
Usage
The group was charged with sedition.

SEDITIOUS (adj)

Meaning
an action or speech urging rebellion against the authority of a state or ruler.
Root of the word
-
Synonyms
rabble rousing, inciting, agitating, fomenting, troublemaking, provocative, inflammatory
Antonyms
-
Usage
He was labelled a rebel and arrested by the government for his seditious speeches.

SEDULOUS (adj)

Meaning
showing dedication and great care
Root of the word
-
Synonyms
diligent, careful, meticulous, thorough, assiduous, attentive, industrious
Antonyms
delinquent
Usage
Being a perfectionist to the core, he executes any job assigned to him with sedulous care.

SEETHE (verb)

Meaning
be filled with great but unexpressed anger
Root of the word
-
Synonyms
be angry, be furious, be enraged, be incensed, be infuriated, be beside oneself, lose one's temper,
Antonyms
-
Usage
He was seething with anger at the injustice meted out to them.

SEGREGATE (verb)

Meaning
to remove from a group, separate
Root of the word
se = apart, away ; greg = herd, crowd
Synonyms
isolate, separate, set aside, keep apart, set apart
Antonyms
integrate
Usage
A child suffering from chicken-pox should be segregated from other children. Usually in aeroplanes the 'No smoking' and the 'Smoking' zones are segregated.

SEMBLANCE (noun)

Meaning
appearance, a show
Root of the word
simu/simi = same, similar
Synonyms
impression, resemblance, façade, veneer, air
Antonyms
-
Usage
The reigning champion is so out-of-form that he seems to have no semblance of a chance to win the title now.

SENILE (adj)

Meaning
having a loss of mental abilities because of old age
Root of the word
sen = old
Synonyms
declining, doddery
Antonyms
-
Usage
The senile old man cursed all his relatives and called them 'crooked politicians'.

SENTIENT (adj)

Meaning
able to perceive or feel things
Root of the word
sens/sent = feel, think
Synonyms
attentive, alert, awake, responsive, conscious
Antonyms
unconscious
Usage
Since plants are sentient living beings they should be nurtured with utmost care.

SEQUEL (noun)

Meaning
follow-up, development
Root of the word
seq/sec = follow
Synonyms
continuation, consequence, outcome, result
Antonyms
forerunner, prelude
Usage
Star Wars II is a sequel to Star Wars I.

SERAPHIC (adj)

Meaning
serene, blissful
Root of the word
-
Synonyms
beatific, sublime, rapturous, ecstatic, joyful, rapt, ethereal, pure innocent, cherubic, saintly, an
Antonyms
demonic
Usage
The little girl endeared herself to everyone with her seraphic smile.

SERRIED (adj)

Meaning
(of rows, people or things) standing close together.
Root of the word
-
Synonyms
close together, packed together, dense, close-set, tight, compact, massed, assembled, tiered.
Antonyms
scattered
Usage
Her study was full of serried rows of books on various subjects.

SERVITUDE (noun)

Meaning
the condition of being a slave or being forced to obey another person.
Root of the word
-
Synonyms
slavery, enslavement, bondage, subjugation, subjection, domination.
Antonyms
-
Usage
Indians were held in servitude by the British for several years.

SHACKLE (verb)

Meaning
to chain someone's ankles or wrists to prevent them from escaping.
Root of the word
-
Synonyms
chain, fetter, manacle, secure, tip (up), bind, tether, hobble, put in chains, put/clap in irons, ha
Antonyms
free
Usage
The hostages were shackled to their seats by the hijackers.

SHAKE-UP (noun)

Meaning
a situation in which a lot of changes are made to a company, an organization etc in order to improve the way in which it works.
Root of the word
-
Synonyms
reorganization, restructuring, rearrangement, change, reshuffle, regrouping, redistribution.
Antonyms
-
Usage
Many academicians suggest that the entire education system requires a major shake-up.

SHAM (noun)

Meaning
a thing that is not as good or genuine as it seems to be
Root of the word
-
Synonyms
pretence, fake act, fiction simulation, imposture
Antonyms
reality, genuiness
Usage
I was shocked when I realized that all the love and tenderness, which he showed was nothing more than a sham.

SHAMBOLIC (adj)

Meaning
very disorganized
Root of the word
-
Synonyms
chaotic, disorganized, muddled, confused
Antonyms
efficient, organized
Usage
She was appalled to find her well kept home, in a shambolic state on her return from a brief holiday.

SHARD (noun)

Meaning
sharp pieces of broken pottery glass etc.
Root of the word
-
Synonyms
piece, fragment, bit, sliver, splinter, shiver, chip, particle, scrap.
Antonyms
-
Usage
Shards of glass were found scattered at the accident site.

SHEEPISH (adj)

Meaning
embarrassed from shame or shyness
Root of the word
-
Synonyms
embarrassed, uncomfortable, self-conscious, shamefaced, ashamed
Antonyms
bold, unembarrassed
Usage
He did not give a reply to my question but gave a sheepish smile.

SIDLE (verb)

Meaning
to walk somewhere in a shy or uncertain way as if you do not want to be noticed.
Root of the word
-
Synonyms
creep, sneak, slink, slip, slide, skulk, prowl, steal, edge, inch.
Antonyms
march, stride
Usage
Because she was late, she sidled into the classroom looking rather sheepish.

SIEGE (noun)

Meaning
the act or process of surrounding a town or fortress, cutting off its supply lines and subjecting it to persistent attack.
Root of the word
-
Synonyms
blockade, beleaguerment, encirclement.
Antonyms
relief
Usage
The beleaguered people of the city heaved a sigh of relief when the siege was brought to a peaceful conclusion.

SIMULATE (verb)

Meaning
to feign, to have or assume a false apperance of.
Root of the word
-
Synonyms
feign, pretend, fake, sham, affect, put on, counterfeit, give the appearance of.
Antonyms
-
Usage
Computer software is used to simulate the sounds made by birds and animals.

SINE DIE (adv)

Meaning
finished without a decision on the next date
Root of the word
di/dia/diur/die = day
Synonyms
-
Antonyms
-
Usage
The meeting was adjourned sine die.

SINGLE-MINDED (adj)

Meaning
only thinking about one particular aim or goal because you are determined to achieve something
Root of the word
-
Synonyms
determined, hell-bent, committed, unswerving, unwavering, undeviating, resolute, purposeful, set, fi
Antonyms
half-hearted, lackadaisical
Usage
He pursued his goal with single-minded devotion and eventually emerged successful.

SINISTER (adj)

Meaning
evil or dangerous
Root of the word
-
Synonyms
menacing, threatening, ominous, forbidding
Antonyms
-
Usage
The sea appeared sinister indicating that a fierce storm was imminent.

SKULDUGGERY (noun)

Meaning
underhand or dishonest behaviour,
Root of the word
-
Synonyms
trickery, swindling, fraudulence, unscrupulousness, underhandedness, chicanery, machinations
Antonyms
probity
Usage
The bureaucrat who was suspended from service on allegations of skulduggery was reinstated when the allegations eventually turned out to be motivated. Most politicians do not shirk from resorting to skulduggery in order achieve their aims.

SKULK (verb)

Meaning
hide or move around in a stealthy way
Root of the word
-
Synonyms
lurk, loiter, hide, creep, sneak, slink, sidle, slope, prowl
Antonyms
-
Usage
When I saw someone skulking behind the bushes, I called in the police immediately fearing that it was a burglar.

SLAKE (verb)

Meaning
to drink so that you no longer feel thirsty.
Root of the word
-
Synonyms
quench, satisfy, take the edge off, sate, satiate, relieve, assuage, gratify.
Antonyms
-
Usage
I was so thirsty that I guzzled two bottles of Coke to slake my thirst.

SLANDEROUS (adj)

Meaning
making false and harmful statements
Root of the word
-
Synonyms
defamatory, denigratory, disparaging, derogatory, libellous, pejorative, false, untrue, scandalous
Antonyms
-
Usage
The politician threatened to sue the newspapers for publishing slanderous remarks against him.

SLAPDASH (adj)

Meaning
done or made in a hurried and careless way.
Root of the word
-
Synonyms
careless, slipshod, lackadaisical, hasty, hurried, disorganized, haphazard, unsystematic, untidy
Antonyms
careful, meticulous, painstaking
Usage
His slapdash approach to work was criticized by his superiors.

SLATTERNLY (adj)

Meaning
a dirty, untidy woman.
Root of the word
-
Synonyms
slovenly, untidy, messy, scruffy, unkempt, ill-groomed, dishevelled, frowzy, blowsy, dirty, grubby
Antonyms
-
Usage
On my way to the super market, I came across a slatternly woman looking rather desolate.

SLIGHTING (adj)

Meaning
rude or disrespectful
Root of the word
-
Synonyms
insulting, disparaging, belittling, derogatory, disrespectful, denigratory, uncomplimentary, pejorat
Antonyms
complimentary
Usage
Although she was piqued by his slighting remarks, she chose to ignore them.

SMUG (adj)

Meaning
irritatingly pleased with oneself
Root of the word
-
Synonyms
complacent, self-congratulatory, superior, puffedup, pleased with oneself, self-approving, well plea
Antonyms
-
Usage
At this hour of crisis we cannot afford to be smug about our achievements but must work hard to improve the situation.

SMUTTY (adj)

Meaning
dirty or sooty.
Root of the word
-
Synonyms
vulgar, dirty, rude, filthy, crude, offensive, salacious, coarse, obscene, indecent, lewd, bawdy
Antonyms
pure
Usage
The film, which was full of smutty jokes and double entendre dialogues, did not appeal to the discerning audience.

SNIDE (adj)

Meaning
disrespectful or mocking in an indirect way
Root of the word
-
Synonyms
disparaging, derogatory, deprecating, insulting, vituperative
Antonyms
complimentary, sympathetic
Usage
Piqued by his rival's snide remarks, John launched into a verbal tirade against him.

SOFTPEDAL (verb)

Meaning
refrain from emphasising
Root of the word
-
Synonyms
play down, make light of, make little/nothing of, de-emphasize, downplay, understate, underplay
Antonyms
-
Usage
The police deliberately soft-pedalled their investigation into the scam.

SOJOURN (noun)

Meaning
halt
Root of the word
ject, jet = to throw, to throw
Synonyms
a temporary stay
Antonyms
-
Usage
After my sojourn in Delhi, I longed to go back to my village to escape the hectic life the city.

SOLECISM (noun)

Meaning
an instance of bad manners or incorrect behaviour, a breach of good manners or etiquette
Root of the word
Synonyms
faux pas, gaffe, breach of etiquette, impropriety, piece of decorum, social indiscretion, inappropri
Antonyms
correctness
Usage
His innumerable social solecisms made him the butt of people's jokes. People should be well versed in matters of etiqette in order to avoid solecisms at social gatherings.

SOLICITUDE (noun)

Meaning
anxious care for somebody's comfort, health or happiness.
Root of the word
-
Synonyms
concern, care, attentiveness, mindfulness, consideration, considerateness, thoughtfulness, solicitou
Antonyms
-
Usage
Mother Teresa's solicitude for the sick and the destitute was legendary.

SOLITUDE (noun)

Meaning
withdrawal
Root of the word
sol = sun, alone, solitude
Synonyms
privacy, seclusion, isolation
Antonyms
company
Usage
Somebody has aptly remarked, “Solitude is the audience chamber of God.”

SOMBRE (adj)

Meaning
very solemn, sad and serious
Root of the word
-
Synonyms
dark, dull, drab, dingy, shady, restrained, solemn, earnest, serious, grave, sober, unsmiling, poker
Antonyms
cheerful
Usage
Although he is normally a cheerful person, today he looks unusually sombre. I could discern from the sombre expression on his face that all was not well.

SOMNOLENT (adj)

Meaning
sleepy
Root of the word
somn/sop = sleep
Synonyms
drowsy, dozy
Antonyms
wide awake, active
Usage
The somnolent rhythm of the opera made me doze off in the auditorium. He hails from a somnolent village on the outskirts of Denver.

SONOROUS (adj)

Meaning
loud
Root of the word
son = sound
Synonyms
deep, resonant, echoing, booming
Antonyms
-
Usage
The sonorous voice of Jim Reeves is adored by millions across the globe.

SOPHISTRY (noun)

Meaning
the use of clever logic to make people believe that something is right when actually it is not
Root of the word
soph = wise
Synonyms
sophism, fallaciousness, equivocation
Antonyms
truthfulness
Usage
The proponents of alchemy were just indulging in sophistry.

SORDID (adj)

Meaning
involving dishonest or immoral actions and motives
Root of the word
-
Synonyms
sleazy, seamy, unsavoury, shoddy, vile, foul, tawdry, debased, degenerate, corrupt, dishonest
Antonyms
high-minded, respectable
Usage
When the sordid details of his private life were exposed, people were shocked at the seamy side of their leader.

SOULFUL (adj)

Meaning
expressing deep sadness or love
Root of the word
-
Synonyms
emotional, deep, deeply felt, profound, fervent, heartfelt, sincere, passionate, meaningful, signifi
Antonyms
matter of fact
Usage
The audience were deeply moved after listening to the soulful melodies.

SPARSE (adj)

Meaning
thin
Root of the word
spers/spar = scatter
Synonyms
scarce, meagre, bare, light
Antonyms
dense
Usage
Sparse crowds demotivate artistes.

SPARTAN (adj)

Meaning
frugal
Root of the word
-
Synonyms
abstemious, economical, austere
Antonyms
lavish
Usage
The retired professor is leading a spartan life these days.

SPASMODIC (adj)

Meaning
happening suddenly for short periods of time, not regular or continuous
Root of the word
-
Synonyms
intermittent, fitful, irregular, sporadic, erratic, occasional, infrequent periodic
Antonyms
-
Usage
But for a few spasmodic incidents of violence, the riot-hit districts were by and large peaceful.

SPECIOUS (adj)

Meaning
seemingly reasonable, but actually wrong
Root of the word
-
Synonyms
misleading, deceptive, false, fallacious, unsound, casuistic, sophistic
Antonyms
-
Usage
Being a stickler for detail he cannot be convinced by such specious arguments.

SPECTRE (noun)

Meaning
a haunting fear or premonition.
Root of the word
-
Synonyms
threat, menace, shadow, cloud, vision, prospect, danger, peril, fear, dread.
Antonyms
-
Usage
The spectre of ethnic strife is looming large in several countries of the world.

SPLENETIC (adj)

Meaning
ill-tempered, peevish
Root of the word
-
Synonyms
angry, wrathful, cross, peevish, petulant, irascible
Antonyms
good-humoured
Usage
Very few people like to befriend a person who is splenetic.

SPOILS (noun)

Meaning
stolen goods
Root of the word
-
Synonyms
booty, loot, plunder, ill-gotten gains, haul, pickings, takings
Antonyms
-
Usage
The thieves shared the spoils of the plunder among themselves.

SPRIGHTLY (adj)

Meaning
lively and full of life
Root of the word
-
Synonyms
spry, energetic, active, spirited, animated
Antonyms
doddering, sluggish, lethargic, inactive
Usage
Not withstanding his age, he is a sprightly person with a zest for life.

SPUR (noun)

Meaning
an encouragement.
Root of the word
-
Synonyms
stimulus, incentive, stimulant, stimulation, inducement, impetus, prod, prompt, goad, incitement, fi
Antonyms
disincentive, discouragement
Usage
Mahatma Gandhi's speeches acted as a spur which roused the patriotic spirit of the Indians.

SQUALID (adj)

Meaning
the state of being extremely dirty and unpleasant
Root of the word
-
Synonyms
dirty, filthy, grimy, repulsive, sordid
Antonyms
clean, pleasant
Usage
He was greatly distressed after witnessing the dismal and squalid living conditions of the slum dwellers.

STAMINA (noun)

Meaning
the ability to keep up with physical or mental effort over a long period
Root of the word
-
Synonyms
endurance, staying power, indefatigability, tirelessness, resistance, resilience, fortitude, strengt
Antonyms
-
Usage
Martial arts like judo and karate call for a lot of stamina.

STATE-OF-THE-ART (adj)

Meaning
using the newest ideas and most up-to-date features.
Root of the word
-
Synonyms
modern, ultra-modern, futuristic, avant-grade, new, advanced, highly developed, sophisticated
Antonyms
-
Usage
Most corporate hospitals boast of state-of-the-art equipment.

STATUESQUE (adj)

Meaning
(of a woman) attractively tall, graceful and dignified.
Root of the word
-
Synonyms
tall and dignified, imposing, striking, stately, majestic, noble, magnificent, splendid, impressive,
Antonyms
unimpressive, plain
Usage
A statuesque woman and a stickler for discipline, the headmistress won the admiration of students.

STATUTE (noun)

Meaning
a written law
Root of the word
-
Synonyms
law, regulation, enactment, act, bill, decree, edict, rule, ruling, resolution, promulgation, dictum
Antonyms
-
Usage
According to a statute issued by the Ministry of Health, smoking in public is prohibited.

STENTORIAN (adj)

Meaning
very loud, loud and powerful
Root of the word
-
Synonyms
high decibel, booming, loud, thundering, thunderous
Antonyms
muffled, quiet, soft
Usage
Our new drillmaster has got a stentorian voice. The commander@s stentorian voice exuded authority.

STIGMA (noun)

Meaning
feelings of disapproval that people associate with particular illness or the way of behaving.
Root of the word
Greek word ‘stigma' which means ‘a mark made by a pointed instrument, a dot'.
Synonyms
shame, disgrace, dishonour, stain, blot, taint
Antonyms
honour, credit
Usage
In our society, an illegitimate child's future is often affected because of the stigma attached to it.

STOLID (adj)

Meaning
calm, dependable and showing little emotion.
Root of the word
-
Synonyms
impassive, phlegmatic, unemotional, calm, placid, unexcitable, apathetic, uninterested, unimaginativ
Antonyms
emotional, lively, imaginative
Usage
Despite all the commotion around him, Bob remained stolid and silent as usual.

STOPGAP (adj)

Meaning
a temporary solution or substitute.
Root of the word
-
Synonyms
temporary, provisional, interim, protem, short-term, working, makeshift, improvised, emergency, impr
Antonyms
permanent
Usage
Although the government would offer to pay an exgratia to the flood victims, it would only be a stopgap measure.

STRAIT-LACED (adj)

Meaning
having very strict moral attitudes
Root of the word
-
Synonyms
prim and proper, prim, priggish, puritanical, moralistic, prissy, mimsy, Victorian, conventional, co
Antonyms
permissive, broad-minded
Usage
The students resented the warden's strait-laced attitude.

STRAITENED (adj)

Meaning
characterized by poverty.
Root of the word
-
Synonyms
impoverished, poverty-stricken, poor, destitute, penniless, penurious, impecunious, indigent, needy,
Antonyms
wealthy, affluent
Usage
His father's untimely death left his family in straitened circumstances.

STRAPPING (adj)

Meaning
(of a person) big and strong.
Root of the word
-
Synonyms
well-built, sturdily built, sturdy, brawny, burly, broad-shouldered, muscular, robust.
Antonyms
-
Usage
She came to the party, chaperoned by a burly strapping man who was probably her bodyguard.

STRIDENT (adj)

Meaning
harsh, loud and unpleasant
Root of the word
-
Synonyms
harsh, raucous, rough, rasping, jarring, loud, shrill, screeching piercing, unmelodious
Antonyms
soft, dulcet
Usage
The strident approach of the captain to tackle the problem was resented by his teammates. In a strident voice, he conveyed his disagreement with the other members of the team.

STRINGENT (adj)

Meaning
strict, precise and demanding
Root of the word
-
Synonyms
strict, firm, rigid, rigorous, harsh, tough, inflexible
Antonyms
lenient, flexible
Usage
Stringent traffic rules are required to bring down the number of accidents in the city.

STUMBLING BLOCK (noun)

Meaning
something that causes problems and prevents one from achieving one's aim
Root of the word
-
Synonyms
obstacle, hurdle, barrier, bar, hindrance, impediment, handicap, disadvantage, restriction, limitati
Antonyms
advantage, benefit
Usage
Lack of communication skills was a major stumbling block for him to grow in his career.

STUPENDOUS (adj)

Meaning
extremely impressive
Root of the word
-
Synonyms
amazing, astounding, astonishing, extraordinary, remarkable, wonderful, prodigious, phenomenal, stag
Antonyms
run-of-the-mill, ordinary
Usage
The winning team was congratulated for their stupendous achievement.

STYGIAN GLOOM (idiom)

Meaning
gloomy
Root of the word
-
Synonyms
despondency
Antonyms
happiness
Usage
A stygian gloom descended on the stadium when some spectators died in the stampede.

STYMIE (verb)

Meaning
prevent or slow down the process of
Root of the word
-
Synonyms
impede, hinder, obstruct, thwart, foil
Antonyms
assist, help
Usage
The extremities of weather like floods and droughts stymie economic growth.

SUAVE (adj)

Meaning
confident, elegant and polite
Root of the word
-
Synonyms
charming, sophisticated, debonair, urbane, worldly, polished, refined, poised dignified, civilized
Antonyms
unsophisticated, rude
Usage
I was so carried away by the man's suave deportment that I was shocked to learn that he was a crook.

SUB ROSA (adv)

Meaning
happening or done in secret.
Root of the word
-
Synonyms
in secret, secretly, in private, in confidence, surreptitiously, furtively, clandestinely, on the sl
Antonyms
-
Usage
The meeting was held sub rosa.

SUBJUGATE (verb)

Meaning
conquer and bring under control
Root of the word
jud = judge
Synonyms
subdue, vanquish
Antonyms
liberate
Usage
India was subjugated by the British for over two centuries.

SUBLIME (adj)

Meaning
of very high quality and causing great admiration
Root of the word
-
Synonyms
exalted, elevated, noble, lofty, awesome, magnificent
Antonyms
poor, lowly, ordinary
Usage
The sublime location of the resort, amid idyllic surroundings, attracted a lot of tourists.

SUBLIMINAL (adj)

Meaning
affecting your mind even though you are not aware of it, subconscious
Root of the word
sub = under, below; limen-threshhold
Synonyms
subconscious, unconscious, hidden, concealed
Antonyms
explicit, conscious
Usage
The ambience of the place where we work and live in has a profound, though often subliminal, influence on our senses and moods. No one can deny the subliminal effects of advertisements. The neurons transmit subliminal messages to the brain.

SUBTERRANEAN (adj)

Meaning
existing under the earth's surface
Root of the word
terra/terre = land, earth
Synonyms
buried, underground
Antonyms
-
Usage
The ancient palace had many subterranean passages.

SUBVERSIVE (adj)

Meaning
trying to undermine an established system or government by attacking it secretly.
Root of the word
-
Synonyms
disruptive, troublemaking, inflammatory, insurgent, insurrectionary
Antonyms
Usage
The movie was banned by the ruling party which felt that it was subversive and intended to destabilise the government.

SUBVERT (verb)

Meaning
undermine
Root of the word
vert/vers = to turn; sub = under, below
Synonyms
challenge, weaken, threaten, destabilize, sabotage
Antonyms
stabilize, strengthen
Usage
The intelligence report claimed that the police had unearthed a plot to subvert the state. The militant group was accused of trying to subvert the peace process.

SUCCOUR (noun)

Meaning
help and support in times of hardship and distress
Root of the word
-
Synonyms
assistance, ministration, relief, support
Antonyms
-
Usage
Several voluntary organizations came forward to offer succour to the people of the flood-ravaged districts.

SUFFUSE (verb)

Meaning
gradually spread through or over
Root of the word
-
Synonyms
permeate, spread over, imbue, fill, load
Antonyms
-
Usage
Her face, which was suffused with pallor, suggested that she was unwell.

SUMPTUOUS (adj)

Meaning
splendid and expensive looking
Root of the word
-
Synonyms
lavish, opulent, luxurious, magnificent, resplendent, gorgeous, splendid, rich, expensive
Antonyms
humble, plain, cheap
Usage
More than the sumptuous spread on the table, it was the hostess' geniality which was heart-waming.

SUPERCILIOUS (adj)

Meaning
arrogant
Root of the word
super/sur = above
Synonyms
haughty, arrogant, patronizing, disdainful, scornful, condescending, pompous, stuck-up
Antonyms
humble
Usage
The supercilious attitude of the leader has alienated even his supporters.

SUPERFLUOUS (adj)

Meaning
extra and not required
Root of the word
super/sur = above
Synonyms
redundant, surplus, unnecessary, unessential, excessive
Antonyms
necessary
Usage
This research paper has a lot of superfluous data in it.

SUPERVISE (verb)

Meaning
oversee
Root of the word
vid/vis = to see
Synonyms
administer, manage, direct, control, take charge of, organize
Antonyms
-
Usage
Janice supervised the show well.

SURFEIT (noun)

Meaning
an excess, surplus
Root of the word
super/sur = above
Synonyms
surplus, abundance, oversupply, superfluity, overdose, glut, deluge, flood
Antonyms
lack, dearth, deficit
Usage
A surfeit of fruits and vegetable has hit the market much to the delight of the consumers. There is a surfeit of violence in movies these days.

SURLY (adj)

Meaning
bad-tempered and unfriendly
Root of the word
-
Synonyms
bad-tempered, ill-natured, grumpy, glum, crotchety, prickly, cantankerous, irascible, splenetic.
Antonyms
good-natured, friendly, pleasant
Usage
The boss's surly nature was resented by his subordinates.

SURPASSING (adj)

Meaning
oustanding
Root of the word
-
Synonyms
exceptional, extraordinary, remarkable, striking, phenomenal, rare, great, supreme, sublime
Antonyms
mediocre, poor
Usage
The surpassing beauty of the Taj Mahal has made it one of the seven wonders of the world.

SURVEILLANCE (noun)

Meaning
close observation of a suspected spy or criminal.
Root of the word
-
Synonyms
check, observation, reconnaissance, scrutiny, supervision, vigilance, watch
Antonyms
-
Usage
Surveillance cameras were installed at all strategic locations in the airport in order to beef up security.

SWASHBUCKLING (adj)

Meaning
engaging in or full of daring and romantic adventures
Root of the word
-
Synonyms
daring, romantic, heroic, daredevil, swaggering, dashing, adventurous, rakish, bold, valiant
Antonyms
timid, unadventurous
Usage
A swashbuckling hero of the seventies, his movies are a big draw even today.

SWINGEING (adj)

Meaning
severe or otherwise extreme
Root of the word
-
Synonyms
severe, extreme, serious, drastic, harsh
Antonyms
minor, mild
Usage
People fulminated against the imposition of swingeing taxes, by the government.

SYMBIOTIC (adj)

Meaning
to the advantage of both
Root of the word
bio = life
Synonyms
interdependent
Antonyms
independent
Usage
The crow and the cow share a symbiotic relationship.

SYMPHONY (noun)

Meaning
an elaborate musical composition for full orchestra.
Root of the word
phon = sound
Synonyms
opus, masterpiece, sonata, concerto
Antonyms
-
Usage
Beethoven's Symphony had a spellbinding effect on the audience.

SYNOPSIS (noun)

Meaning
outline
Root of the word
sym/syn = same, together
Synonyms
rundown, abridgment, summary, abstract, summation
Antonyms
expansion, elaboration
Usage
I have to submit the synopsis of my research by the 15th of this month.