By now it should be clear to you how important having a strong vocabulary is.
To have even a basic understanding of comprehension passages it is important to first understand the words. However, building up one’s vocabulary requires rigorous practice.
Read, Rinse and Repeat: Reading is an essential, unavoidable step of the process. In order to get familiar with important words that might come up in comprehension passages, making a habit of reading newspapers is helpful. Some good examples include Indian Express, The Times of India and The Hindu. Everytime you come across a new word, it is a good idea to underline or highlight it and relate it to your own life. Make a note of each new word you come across to refer to later.
A Separate Notebook: It is a good idea to have a separate space to write down all the new words that you come across. As you come across more words, it is likely that some might escape your memory. Having them all written down in one place for reference later can be particularly helpful for active recall.
Construct Sentences: Memorising a list of new words will only get you so far. Writing sentences with unfamiliar words you come across makes you actively engage with each word, which each in turn helps retain it in your memory for much longer. It is also extra grammar practice that will help you write better essays in future.
Flashcards: Flashcards help in active recall which has been proven to improve one’s memory.
Word games: Playing word games could be a way to build your vocabulary while relaxing. However, be careful to not use this as an excuse to use your phone to procrastinate.
A List of Important Words
Abdicate: 1. (of a monarch) to renounce one's throne
2. to fail to fulfil a responsibility or duty
Synonyms: resign, retire, step down, disown, turn down
Antonym: Accept.
Abject: extremely unpleasant
Synonyms: wretched, miserable.
Abrade: scrape or wear away by friction or erosion
Synonyms: wear, erode
Antonym: rebuild
Abridged: A piece of writing that has been shortened.
Synonyms: Concise, shortened, condensed.
Antonyms: lengthened, expanded
Abundant: having large quantities
Synonyms: plentiful, ample, copious
Antonyms: scarce, sparse.
Acquit: To free someone from a criminal charge by verdict of not guilty.
Synonyms: absolve, clear, exonerate.
Antonyms: Convict.
Adamant: Refusing to be persuaded or change one's mind.
Synonyms: firm, Steadfast, resolute.
Antonym: unsure
Adequate: Satisfactory or acceptable in quality or quantity.
Synonyms: Enough, sufficient, ample.
Antonyms: insufficient, inadequate.
Adverse: harmful or unfavourable.
Synonyms: disadvantageous, dangerous.
Antonyms: favourable, beneficial, positive
Aggravate: make a problem worse or more serious; to annoy.
Synonyms: provoke, antagonise.
Antonyms: calm, conciliate
Ailing: in poor health.
Synonyms: ill, unwell.
Antonyms: healthy, strong.
Alienated: to feel isolated.
Synonyms: estranged, isolated, set apart.
Antonyms: united
Allude: to hint at; suggest indirectly.
Synonyms: imply, mention in passing.
Antonyms: direct
Ally: a state formally cooperating with another state. verb combine or unite a resource for mutual benefit.
Synonyms: amalgamate, pool.
Antonyms: split
Ambiguous: unclear or vague.
Synonyms: perplexing, cryptic, dubious.
Antonyms: unambiguous, clear.
Ambivalent: having mixed feelings or contradictory ideas about something. Synonyms: uncertain, doubtful, inconclusive.
Antonyms: certain, unequivocal.
Amidst: in the middle of, at the time of.
Ample: Enough or more than enough.
Synonyms: plentiful, abundant.
Antonyms: insufficient, scarce.
Annihilate: to destroy completely.
Synonyms: destroy, wipe out, obliterate.
Antonyms: create, build, establish.
Applaud: verb. to show approval or praise (by clapping).
Synonyms: acclaim, cheer.
Antonym: disapprove
Audacity: 1. a willingness to take bold risks.
rude or disrespectful behaviour.
Synonyms: impertinence, impudence, insolence, daring.
Antonyms: politeness.
Complacency: A feeling of smug or uncritical satisfaction with oneself or one's achievements.
Synonyms: smugness, self-approval, gloating.
Antonyms: dissatisfaction
Complement: a thing that contributes features to something else in a way that improves or emphasises its quality.
Synonyms: supplement, accompany.
Antonym: contrast
Compliance: to act in accordance with a wish or command.
Synonyms: obey, follow, fulfil,
Antonyms: ignore, disober.
Compliment: a praise or expression of approval.
Synonyms: flattering, appreciative.
Antonym: derogatory
Conundrum:. 1. A confusing and difficult problem 2. A riddle Similar Words: dilemna, quandary, puzzle, teaser
Deleterious: causing harm or damage.
Synonyms: harmful, amaging, detrimental
Antonyms: beneficial, advantageous
Dichotomy: a division or contrast between two things that are seemingly opposite or completely different.
Synonyms: contradiction, polarity.
Distinguish: to recognise or treat something as different.
Synonyms: differentiate, discriminate, separate
Distortion: twisted or contorted
Egalitarian: based on the principle that all are equal and deserve equal rights. Noun. a person who supports equal rights and equality for all people.
Synonyms: equalitarian, classless, impartial
Emphasise: give special importance or value to something; lay stress on something. Synonyms: stress, highlight, dwell on.
Antonym: understate
Empirical: based on observation or experience rather than theory or pure logic. Synonyms: observed, factual, first-hand.
Antonym: theoretical
Exacerbate: make a problem or situation worse
Synonym: aggravate, worsen, intensify.
Antonym: calm, reduce
Fragment: a small part broken off or separated from something.
Synonyms: piece, particle.
Antonym: whole.
Impact: effect or influence. verb. come into forcible contact with another object.
Synonym: impression, collision, crash
Indigenous: originating or occurring naturally in a particular place
Synonyms: native, aboriginal, local
Antonym: migrant, foreign
Integration: the process of uniting different things.
Synonyms: combination, unification, incorporation.
Antonyms: separation, segregation
Jurisdiction: the official power to make legal decisions and judgements
Synonyms: Authority, control, power, dominion.
Mitigate: make (something bad) less severe; lessen the gravity of something.
Synonym: alleviate, reduce, diminish.
Antonym: aggravate, intensify
Muddle: a mix up, confused state.
Synonyms: disarray, disorganise.
Antonym: orderly
Necessitate: make something necessary as a result or consequence
Synonym: entail, require
Pervasive: spreading widely throughout an area or a group of people.
Synonyms: prevalent, penetrating,
Profusely: In large amounts. similar words: excessively, extensively, abundantly. Opposite words: Scanty, Sparing.
Quintessential: Representing the most typical example of something.
Synonyms: typical, classic, essential
Reconcile: restore friendly relations between.
Synonyms: appease, placate, pacify
Antonyms: agitate, irritate
Renounce: formally declare abandonment LAW: Refuse or resign a right or position
Synonyms: Relinquish, reject, abdicate, surrender.
Antonyms: accept
Rhetoric: the art of effective or persuasive speaking or writing. Language designed to have a persuasive or impressive effect, but is often regarded as lacking in sincerity.
Synonyms: oratory, eloquence.
Scrutiny: Critical observation or examination.
Synonym: careful examination, inspection, survey
Antonym: Cursory look
Stringent: (of regulation, requirements or conditions) strict, precise and exacting.
Synonym: strict, firm, rigorous.
Antonym: lenient, flexible
Trajectory: the path followed by something.
Synonym: course, route, path.
Vulnerable: exposed to the possibility of being attacked or harmed, either physically or emotionally.
Synonyms: at risk, endangered, unguarded.
Antonym: invulnerable, resilient
Withstand: remain undamaged or unaffected by something; offer strong resistance to something.
Synonyms: resist, hold out against.
Antonyms: give in, surrender
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