We hope all these word lists will strengthen your vocabulary portion for upcoming SSC exams.If all of you are preparing for SSC exams, here we will help all of you at every step. As we all know that SSC (Staff Selection Commission) is the main central recruitment agency which conducts various recruitments for central departments. As we all know that SSC mainly conducts SSC CGL, SSC CPO, SSC CHSL, SSC MTS & SSC JE exams. As per our experience, we can say that English is one of the most important subjects required for these exams because English subject will be part of Tier 1 & Tier 2 both. So we will suggest all of you to focus more on this section.

1. A Friendly Advice:
When u do vocabulary please keep following in mind:
# Revision is necessary---if u don’t keep repeating words u learn...u will forget it...please make
sure u use them daily..
# for that do limited words only otherwise it is difficult to catch up
and foremost
# When u do vocabulary don’t blindly follow the synonyms antonyms...in English two words are
used differently and their contextual meaning is different Ex. content, delight, felicity, ecstasy
are synonyms of happy...but their context is different...u cannot use ecstasy in place of
content....vice versa..
# it is better to learn the actual meaning of words rather than mugging up synonyms...
Good luck
1. amateur
An amateur is a person who does something for enjoyment, not money, like an
amateur who paints as a hobby but earns a living another way.
A dilettante is a person, often one who pretends to be very knowledgeable.
2. connoisseur
A connoisseur is a person who, through study and interest, has a fine appreciation
for something, like the connoisseur who can identify the clarinet player on a jazz
recording by the sound of his inhalations alone.
3. redemption
Redemption is the buying back of something. You might try for redemption by
attempting to buy back a bike you sold, or you might attempt to buy back your soul
after you steal someone else’s bike.
4. Profane
The word profane can also describe behavior that's deeply offensive because it
shows a lack of respect, especially for someone's religious beliefs.
5. eviction
An eviction is when a renter or tenant is forced to move out by a property owner. If
you don't pay rent for months, you run the risk of eviction.

2. 6. obdurate
Obdurate is a formal word meaning stubborn. If you want to learn in Guitar, but your
parents are obdurate that you should go for professional courses, they might go so
far as to threaten not to pay your tuition.
7. hitherto
Previously, as yet
Use the adverb hitherto when you're describing a state or circumstance that existed
up until now.
When some particular situation has existed so far, up until the moment that you're
speaking of, you can use the word hitherto to talk about it.
8. myriad
If you've got myriad problems it means you've got countless problems; loads of them;
too many to count.
Story of everyone's life
9. nadir
If a highly forgetful person loses his phone, his wallet, and then his car keys in
separate instances all in one day, you could say that he has reached an
organizational nadir. This means ―lowest point.‖
more generally to describe the worst point of someone’s life or career.
10.obsequious
If you disapprove of the overly submissive way someone is acting — like the teacher's
favorite or a celebrity's assistant — call them by the formal adjective obsequious.
Obsequious people are usually not being genuine; they resort to flattery ways to stay
in the good graces of authority figures. An obsequious person can be called a
bootlicker
11.meticulous
marked by extreme care in a treatment of details
People who are meticulous can be pretty annoying, what with their extreme attention
to detail. But if that person is, say, your surgeon or your accountant, you'll want them

3. to be meticulous.
"Detail oriented" and "perfectionist" are some other words for it
12.morose
A morose person is sullen, gloomy, sad, glum, and depressed — not a happy go
lucky types.
When someone is morose, they seem to have a cloud of sadness hanging over
them. This word is stronger than just sad — morose implies being extremely gloomy
and depressed.
13.oblivious
If you don't notice or aren't aware, it means that the adjective oblivious applies to
you!
When we think of the adjective oblivious, it is usually in situations that involve being
totally unaware of what's staring us right in the face. It can also mean being forgetful
and absent-minded.
14.serendipity
If you find good things without looking for them, serendipity — unexpected good luck
— has brought them to you.
The meaning of the word, good luck in finding valuable things unintentionally, refers
to the fairy tale characters who were always making discoveries through chance.
You can thank serendipity if you find a pencil at an empty desk just at you walk into
an exam and realize that you forgot yours.
15.umbrage
a feeling of anger caused by being offended
When someone takes umbrage at something, they find it offensive, and it probably
makes them angry.
16.vociferous
Vociferous describes loudmouths. Vociferous isn't just loud, but annoying, too, like
when the vociferous fans of the opposing cricket team chant insults...
17.edacious
devouring or craving food in great quantities
Watching your edacious uncle at an all-you-can-eat buffet would be an alarming
experience, since edacious means eating huge amounts of food ravenously.
18.Subsequent
Something that come after something else in order
When you mention a car crash and subsequent traffic jam or a scandal and

4. subsequent investigation, one follows the other in order but a cause and effect
relationship is implied too.
19.speculation
When you guess about how something is going to come out (or how it happened),
that's speculation. You're making an educated guess.
20.vigorous
characterized by forceful and energetic action or activity
Anything vigorous is done with force and energy. Vigorous exercise makes you
sweat,
21.reminisce
Reminisce is a dreamy way of saying "remember the past." If you're swapping old
stories with friends and remembering all the silly things you used to do, then you're
reminiscing.
22.sully
To sully is to attack someone's good name and to try to ruin his reputation.
23.Apropos
If someone's remarks are suitable and appropriate to the occasion, you can get on
their good side by saying: How apropos!
24.felicitous
Felicitous describes something that's pleasantly apt or fitting. Felicitous words you
write on your friend's birthday card are the ones that perfectly suit the occasion and
make her happy when she reads them.
25.prevaricate
When you prevaricate, you lie or mislead. it also has the sense of making it hard to
know exactly what the lie was. You talk in a confusing way, go back and forth, and as
deliberately as possible mislead someone.
26.saturnine
Medieval alchemists ascribed to the planet Saturn a gloomy and slow character.
When people are called saturnine, it means they are like the planet––gloomy, mean,
scowling. Not exactly the life of the party.

5. 27.taciturn
Someone who is taciturn is reserved, not loud and talkative. The word itself refers to
the trait of seeming aloof and uncommunicative. A taciturn person might be snobby,
naturally quiet, or just shy.
28.tractable
If your little brother quietly obeys your instructions and waits for you at the food court
while you and your friends wander around the mall, he's probably a tractable child,
meaning he's obedient, flexible, and responds well to directions.
29.malinger
When you malinger, you pretend to be sick. If you ever claimed to have a stomach
ache in order to stay home from work, you know what it means to malinger.
30.pragmatic
To describe a person or a solution that takes a realistic approach, consider the
adjective pragmatic. A pragmatic person is sensible, grounded, and practical
31.cadge
To cadge is to plead or beg for something. A hungry child might cadge an extra
cookie from her mom while she's baking.
32.entice
Let's say your friend wants to go to the movies and you don't want to. Your friend
might try to entice you by offering to buy you popcorn and a soda. Entice means to
persuade with promises of something.
33.diffidence
The noun diffidence refers to a lack of self-confidence. Your diffidence might be the
reason why you never say "hi" to the cute guy or gal in the elevator or why you never
ask for a raise.
34.aficionado
If you really like something and make it your business to study up on its history and
characteristics, you could be called an aficionado of that subject.
The word aficionado implies serious study and fervent interest — it’s often applied to
lovers of wine, known as wine aficionados — but you can think of it as just a fancy
way to say fan.
35.sinecure
If you have a cushy job — one that pays, but involves minimal work — then you have a

6. sinecure. "Because he was the brother of the CEO, he was offered a sinecure in the
company: he showed up each day and collected a pay check, but others actually did
his work."
36.complacent
Someone who is complacent has become overly content — the junk-food-eating
couch potato might be feeling complacent about his health. A complacent person
might be heard saying, "Ehh, don't worry about it!" — when there really is something
to worry about.
37.conciliatory
If you're in a fight with a friend and you want to end it, you should make a conciliatory
gesture, such as inviting her to a party you're having. Conciliatory describes things
that make other people less angry.
38.Embankment
a long artificial mound of stone or earth; built to hold back water or to support a road
or as protection
39.meticulous
marked by extreme care in a treatment of details
People who are meticulous can be pretty annoying, what with their extreme attention
to detail. But if that person is, say, your surgeon or your accountant, you'll want them
to be meticulous.
"Detail oriented" and "perfectionist" are some other words for it
40.penchant
a strong liking
A penchant is a strong preference or tendency. If you have a penchant for
Chocolate, you either eat it daily or wish you did.
41.insular
Insular means "having a narrow view of the world," like insular people who never
leave their small town, which enables them to believe that every place in the world is
the same and the people are all just like them.
42.inane
If something is inane, it's silly or senseless.We call something inane if it states the

7. obvious, or is really silly in a way that seems unintelligent. Other synonyms are
stupid, vacuous, ridiculous, pointless.
43.infamy
Infamy means being famous for something bad or negative.The noun infamy is most
often used to talk about famously evil or terrible people or historical events.
44.impeccable
The adjective impeccable describes something or someone without any flaws. A
stand-up comedian needs impeccable timing for his jokes to work.
45.haughty
Someone who is haughty is arrogant and full of pride. When you're haughty, you
have a big attitude and act like you're better than other people.
46.flabbergasted
When you see your sister come back from the salon with bright green spiky hair and
your jaw drops to the floor in total shock, you’re flabbergasted. You are really, really
shocked — pretty much speechless.
I remember this word frm the time Ranvijay Singh used it in Roadies Auditions old
season me
47.candor
Candor usually means the quality of being open, honest, and sincere. If someone
tells you they think you are dumb, you might reply with, "While I appreciate your
candor, I don't think we need to be friends anymore."
48.exculpate
To exculpate means to find someone not guilty of criminal charges. If you've been
wrongly accused of robbery, you'd better hope a judge will exculpate you, unless you
want to go to jail because you've heard prison food is amazing.
49. Enchantment
A feeling of great liking for something wonderful and unusual
also,a magic spell
50.comely
Comely means attractive or appropriate. A comely girl is pretty. A comely hairstyle is
flattering. If your manners are comely, it means you know the right way to act to put

8. people at their ease.
Comely is the opposite of the similar-looking homely, which means plain-looking,
almost ugly.
51.retort
A retort is a short, clever response to someone's comment or question.
To retort is to make a comeback, or a quick, witty answer or remark. It can be a form
of payback when someone tries to insult or tease another person, and often, the
perfect retort doesn't occur to you till later, when you think "Oh! I wish I had said that
earlier!"
52.notion
A notion is an idea, often vague and sometimes fanciful.a vague idea in which some
confidence is placed
53.repugnant
Repugnant refers to something you detest so thoroughly it threatens to make you
physically sick,
A repugnant thing is a thing offensive, detestable, or obscene. It can be repugnant to
your mind or your morals. It can also be physically repugnant, like the smell that
comes from a restaurant’s dumpster, which hasn't been emptied since the very
exciting "Omelet Week," t. Makes you want to "re-PLUG-nant" your nose!
54.emeritus
An emeritus is a retired college professor or minister. When a professor stops
teaching, she might be given the title of emeritus, which basically means she can still
be remembered as a successful professor
55.ingenue
The term is used to describe the innocent girl stock character in film or literature.
She's usually gentle, sweet and pretty naive — which makes her susceptible to the
harsh dangers of the world. Ingénue can also be used to describe an actress who
specializes in playing this kind of character specifically.
56.dalliance
A dalliance is a playful flirtation, one that might lead to a casual romance. The king's
public dalliance toward the lady in waiting shocked everyone in the court except for
the queen.

9. 57.demure
A demure person can be described as polite and a little shy. A demure outfit is a
modest one––think high neckline and low hem.
it is used to be a huge compliment for a woman or a girl, for them to be considered
shy and quiet and modest. Those days are over, thank goodness, because demure
people are nice and all, but they're also a little boring.
58.insolvent
Piggy bank empty? Nothing but lint in your pockets? Then you're probably unable to
meet any financial obligations. In other words, you are insolvent.
Being insolvent isn't just about being poor. A person or business that's insolvent has
no resources, no assets and no way to pay any of the bills.
59.Chatoyant
Changeable, Varying in color when seen in different lights or from different angles
60.cynosure
A cynosure is the main attraction. A figure skater on the ice is the cynosure, or focal
point, of a stadium as she triple-axles through the air. All eyes are on her with
admiration, hoping that she'll land it.
61.opulent
Opulent is a word that you will hear a lot around rich people looking to show off. If
you want to remember that opulent is a word describing lavish displays of wealth,
you can think of the word opal to help you remember it––opal being a rare gem.
62.surreptitious
When someone behaves in a surreptitious way, they're being secretive. They're
doing something that they don't want to be seen doing.
63.scintilla
a tiny or scarcely detectable amount and also a sparkling glittering particle
It might take more than a scintilla of English vocabulary knowledge to know that
scintilla means a tiny bit of something.
64.lassitude
a feeling of lack of interest or energy
If you are feeling lassitude, you're weary and just can't be bothered.

10. 65.fraught
Fraught means filled with something — often something bad.. If relations between two
countries are fraught, they are not getting along with each other.
66.colloquy
A colloquy is a formal talk, the opposite of a chat, such as the colloquy you have with
your boss about a serious matter — far different from how you'll talk to your friends
about it afterward.
67.onerous
If one teacher gives you three hours of homework a night, that's rough. But if all of
your teachers do it, that makes the task of completing your homework an onerous
one, to say the least. If something is onerous, it is very difficult to deal with or do.
68.monotheism
Monotheism is the belief in a single all-powerful god, as opposed to religions that
believe in multiple gods. Judaism, Christianity, and Islam are widely practiced forms
of monotheism.
monos-, ―alone‖ or ―single,‖ and theo-, ―god.‖
69.austere
The adjective austere is used to describe something or someone stern or without
any decoration.
Austere is not usually a positive word because it means that a person or a thing isn't
pleasurable. For example, if you go on an austere diet, it's likely you wouldn't ever
get to have candy
70.apostate
An apostate is someone who has deserted his cause. A disloyal person who betrays
or deserts his cause or religion or political party or friend etc.
71.sanctimonious
The sanctimonious person sounds like a hypocrite when he preaches to a friend
about the evils of drugs, while he drinks one beer after another.
Though sanctimonious people might try to act like saints, their actions are far from
pure or holy, which just makes them sound like hypocrites.
72.stringent
That teacher's demands are stringent — she wants the homework typed in her
favorite font, on special paper, and each essay must be exactly 45 lines!

11. 73.satiate
If you just can't get enough popcorn, even the jumbo tub at the movie theater may
not be enough to satiate, or satisfy, your desire.
antonym- insatiate
74.elixir
Miraculous, magical, and maybe a little mysterious, an elixir is a sweet substance or
solution that cures the problem at hand.
75.felicity
Felicity is a state of happiness or the quality of joy. Sitting on the roof with a
telescope and iced tea on a clear, starry night is one way to find perfect felicity — a
happy place.
elicity comes from the Latin fēlīcitās, meaning "happiness." A synonym for felicity is
"blissfulness.
76.quintessential
If someone tells you you’re the quintessential rock musician, that means they think
that everything about you screams ―rock and roll.‖ Quintessential means embodying
or possessing the essence of something.
77.debacle
Use debacle to refer to a fiasco, disaster, or great failure.
Debacle comes from French débâcler "to clear," from Middle French desbacler, from
the prefix des- "completely, utterly" plus bacler "to block."
78.ostentation
Ostentation is a pretentious or showy display (gaudy or flashy), usually designed to
attract attention.
The noun ostentation stems from the Latin word ostentationem, meaning "vain
display." It is often associated with material items that showcase one's wealth and
luxury. Ostentation might come to the minds of the other parents if you drive a
Lamborghini to drop your kids off at school.
79.pique
The verb pique means to make someone angry or annoyed. But when something
piques your interest or curiosity
The word is pronounced "pēk" and borrowed from a French word meaning "irritation,"
from Old French, from piquer "to prick."
80.disdain
If you feel that something isn't worthy of your consideration, you may disdain it (or
treat it with disdain).

12. In Old French, deignier meant "to treat something as worthy." To disdain something,
then, is to treat it with contempt
81.concomitant
Concomitant is one of those Latin-based words you can break down into little pieces:
con means with, and comit means companion. So something that is concomitant is
like the companion of the main event. If you start training really hard at the gym, the
main effect is that you become stronger, but there are concomitant effects, like better
circulation, or a rosy glow, or getting happy from all those endorphins you’re
releasing.
82.mollify
To mollify is to calm someone down, talk them off the ledge, make amends, maybe
even apologize.
Mollify comes from the Latin mollificare to "make soft," and that's still at the heart the
word. When you mollify someone, you smooth things over, even if you're maybe still
a little mad
83.antagonize
To antagonize is to provoke someone to react angrily. If your mother tells you to stop
antagonizing your brother, she's asking you to stop making him mad.
Antagonize shares the same Greek roots with the word agony, so think about how
much agony you cause your siblings when you tease and goad them into getting
angry. Bugs Bunny is known to antagonize Elmer Fudd, who hunts but never does
catch that wabbit.
84. perpetual
Use the adjective perpetual to describe something that never ends or changes. word,
perpetual, from the Latin perpetuus, "continuous."
85.facile
If someone does something easily, or shows ease, it is described as facile in a good
way, but if someone takes the easy way out and shows a lack of thought or care, it is
facile in a bad way.

13. While it is a lovely sounding French word, facile is both a compliment and an insult
depending on how it's used.
86.beseech
If you're begging for something but you want to sound formal and a little old-
fashioned, say "I beseech you!" It really captures how urgent and desperate you are,
yet perhaps saves a shred of your dignity.
87.unfathomable
Unfathomable means impossible to ever understand. For most people, the field of
quantum mechanics is unfathomable
88.besiege
To besiege means to attack with an army, or to pester with many requests. When all
your teachers ask you to hand in assignments on the same day, you can end up
feeling besieged.
Harass, as with questions or requests
Encircle as a military tactic
89.rhetoric
Rhetoric is speaking or writing that's intended to persuade.Rhetoric comes from the
Greek meaning "speaker" and is used for the art of persuasive speaking or writing.
When people listened eagerly to long speeches and studied them in school, rhetoric
was generally used positively; now it is often a negative term, implying artfulness
over real content. If someone gives a clever speech but doesn't really address the
problem, you might say, "That's just a lot of rhetoric."
90.scrupulous
Scrupulous means very careful to do things properly and correctly, such as paying
friends back for money borrowed right away,
A scrupulous person is full of scruples, which are concerns about doing things that

14. are morally right. Such a person is hesitant or doubtful, and might have trouble
deciding what is morally right or wrong
91.caprice
A sudden desire
The word caprice has its roots in the French for "whim," which comes from the Italian
word capriccio for "fright" or "sudden start." A caprice can be just a fun impulsive act,
but it also can be something done on a quick whim, without thinking it through or
preparing for the change in direction. Having a sudden liking, or caprice, for
someone or something can be short-lived too.
92.odium
That shivery feeling of disgust and hatred that you get when you see something
senseless and horrible is called odium.
93.candid
Straightforward and truthful talk might be described with the adjective candid.
94.beguile
To beguile is to trick someone, either with deception or with irresistible charm and
beauty. You could be beguiled by a super model or by a super con artist.
95.stupendous
Stupendous means amazing or awesome.
While you might think of stupid as a mean word for someone who isn’t smart, it can
also mean senseless or stunned. If something stuns you so much that you are
amazed, it is stupendous.When something is big enough to astound, also use this
word.

15. 96.reticent
Reticent means either quiet or restrained. If you're reticent about your feelings, you
like to keep them to yourself, and you're probably quiet in rowdy groups where
everyone is talking over each other.
97.propensity
A propensity is a natural tendency to behave in a certain way. We all have
propensities — things we tend to do.
If you have a propensity for something, then it's something that comes naturally to
you or something you just do a lot. Some people have a propensity to laugh. Other
people have a propensity for making others laugh, or for being generous, or for
getting angry. It's hard to change your propensities.
98.sultry
Stifling, humid and downright oppressive, sultry is an adjective that has everything to
do with sweltering heat and a definite need for a tall glass of iced tea.
. A sultry atmosphere is thick, almost swampy feeling. And all that heavy heat can
certainly get passions stirring — "a sultry look" is one that happens to express steamy
desire.
99.amalgamate
To amalgamate is to combine different things to create something new. Institutions —
such as banks, schools, or hospitals — often join forces and amalgamate with one
other. But other things — like musical genres — get amalgamated as well.
The verb amalgamate original referred specifically to the mixture of metals, now
however, it refers to any mixing or blending.
100. cajole
To cajole someone is to persuade them by using insincere compliments or promises.
If you say "Please, pretty-please, I'll be your best friend," when asking for a stick of
gum, you are cajoling the gum holder.

16. 101. veracious
Someone who is veracious speaks the truth — like your brutally honest friend who
always lets you know what she thinks about your outfits, your hairstyle, your biryani
recipe, and your taste in movies.
102. apocryphal
Urban legends — They're told as if they're true, but no one can ever identify their
origins.
103. euphony
Shakespeare's language is a good example of euphony: pleasant, musical sounds in
harmony, Use euphony to describe music or poetry. To understand it, break it down:
eu- means good; phon- means sound or voice. Of course, just as beauty is in the eye
of the beholder, euphony is in the ear of the listener — it's subjective
104. effervescence
Soda has effervescence. How can you tell? Just look for bubbles. Things that bubble
have effervescence.
Effervescence derives from French. To pronounce it correctly, say "eff er VES ence."
mean "lively," such as the effervescence of someone who has energy and charisma.
105. grandiloquent
Grandiloquent is a fancy term for, well, being fancy or pretentious. In fact, you might
say grandiloquent is itself a pretty grandiloquent word.
The word grandiloquent generally refers to the way a person behaves or speaks.
Politicians and schoolteachers are the usual suspects of this manner of behavior,
known as grandiloquence, but it can refer to anything that's overbearing or pompous
in style or manner.
106. gestate
It's unclear just how long it took for the idea for the website to gestate. Did he think of
it right away, or did it take months for him to come up with the idea?

17. gestate is used to refer to ideas and plans while they're in the development phase. A
gestation period is the time it takes for something to be born. Humans, for example,
gestate for nine months.
107. Factitious
If you create a "diamond" out of plastic, then you’ve created a factitious diamond,
meaning that it’s a phony.
Word Count
Made Up: Fictional, Fictitious, Fictive, and Factitious
108. parsimonious
A parsimonious person is unwilling to spend a lot of money. You know those people
who count up every penny when it's time to split a restaurant bill? You can call them
parsimonious. Or cheap.
Stingy is the most common and general synonym, but there are many other near
synonyms: thrifty, frugal, penurious, niggardly, penny-pinching, miserly, tight-fisted,
tight. The adjective parsimonious was formed in English from the noun parsimony
"the quality of being careful in spending" (from Latin parcimonia, from parcere "to
spare") plus the suffix –ous "having the quality of."
109. malaise
If you are experiencing malaise, chances are you are feeling blue or looking green.
Malaise is a slump; you're not feeling your best — either mentally or physically.
Mal is French for "bad," and aise means "ease." When experiencing malaise, ease
yourself down on the couch to recover.
110. pellucid
A sentence that teaches a new vocabulary word should always be pellucid, that is,
its style and meaning should be easily understandable so that you can derive the
definition from the sentence.
You may have heard the word lucid, which means clear. Both lucid and pellucid
derive from a Latin word that means "to shine through."

18. 111. stultify
When something stultifies you, it drains you of your energy, enthusiasm, or pleasure.
The verb stultify is sometimes used in place of "bore" or "exhaust," but only if
something is so boring or exhausting that it makes you feel as though you might just
die. It's a very negative word. If you're in a relationship that's stultifying, you should
find a way out. Relationships should make you feel more alive, not less.
112. nexus
A nexus is a central link or connection. If you happen to be at the nexus of
something, you are right in the middle of it, like standing in the middle of an
intersection.
113. connotation
an idea or feeling which a word invokes for a person in addition to its literal or
primary meaning.
When you're talking about the implied subtext of words rather than their literal
meaning, reach for the noun connotation. A political boss might not want to be called
"boss" because of the negative connotations.A closely related word is implication.
114. assiduity
When you do something with assiduity, you really focus your attention on it. If you
work with assiduity on a research paper, you're sure to get an A.
If you've ever watched professional tennis, you've seen players focus with assiduity
on their game. Diligent students, serious chess players, and successful businessmen
all make great use of their assiduity to get what they want and do their best work.
115. moribund
Something that is moribund is almost dead, like a moribund economy that has been
stuck in a recession for years.
In Latin, mori means "to die." You probably recognize this root in words like mortal,
mortician, and mortuary. Moribund means "near death," but it can also mean
something that is coming to an end, nearly obsolete, or stagnant. For example, as

19. streaming videos over the Internet becomes a more and more popular way to watch
movies and television shows, the DVD has become a moribund medium.
116. iconoclast
Are you always challenging the establishment? Or provoking popular thought by
attacking traditions and institutions? Then you're definitely an iconoclast.
To be called an iconoclast today is usually kind of cool — they're rugged
individualists, bold thinkers who don't give a hoot what tradition calls for.
117. credo
Credo is Latin for, literally, "I believe," and originally meant a particular religious
belief. Now it has the far broader meaning of any system of principles that guide a
person or group.
118. arrogate
To arrogate is to take over. When the teacher steps out of the classroom and some
bossy girl marches up to the front chalkboard? What she's trying to do is arrogate the
teacher's authority to herself.
119. hoodwink
To hoodwink someone means to trick or mislead them.
Conceal one's true motives from especially by elaborately pretending to have good
intentions so as to gain an end
120. obloquy
If you are on the receiving end of obloquy, then society has turned against you and
you are in a state of disgrace.
If you break the word obloquy into its two Latin roots, you have ob, meaning ―against‖
and loqui, meaning "to speak" — so obloquy means ―to speak against," in an
especially mean way. Obloquy can also be the result of public shame, or criticism.

20. 121. sybarite
If you know someone who's totally addicted to luxurious things and all of life's
pleasures, call her a sybarite.
122. fulminate
cause to explode violently and with loud noise
The word fulminate is made up of the Latin root fulmen meaning "lightning flash."
Look up at the sky during a violent thunderstorm and chances are you'll catch
thunder and lightning fulminate or explode loudly and violently overhead
123. abysmal
If you want to say something is really, really bad — then call it abysmal.
124. faltering
Faltering is the action of hesitating or losing strength. A game show contestant's
faltering might cause her opponent to win.
125. suave
To be suave is to be smooth, polite, and a little bit cool. Men can be suave and
debonair, especially the ones riding horses on the covers of romance novels.
Suave is from the Latin word suavis which means "agreeable." To be suave is still to
be agreeable — a suave person knows how to work the room Suave men know how
to talk to the ladies — mustaches, cologne, and ridiculous come-ons could be
involved.
126. enamor
When you are enamored by something or someone, you love it. It attracts you. You
might say that you're enamored with your new car

21. 127. mercurial
Mercurial describes someone whose mood or behavior is changeable and
unpredictable, or someone who is clever, lively, and quick.
128. proclivity
A proclivity is a natural tendency to like something, such as your sister's proclivity for
restaurants that serve hot, spicy food.
When you have a proclivity, it feels automatic — you like what you like; you don't even
have to think about it. The origin of the word proclivity supports this feeling. Proclivity
comes from the Latin word proclivis, which literally means "sloping forward."
129. squeamish
Excessively fastidious and easily disgusted
easily made to feel sick or disgusted.
130. gawk
When you stare in amazement at something, you gawk at it. You might stand frozen
in one position with your mouth and eyes wide open and gawk when you see a
famous movie star on the street.
131. prognosticate
To prognosticate means to predict something or at least hint at what will happen in
the future. When a lot of natural disasters start happening close together, you might
prognosticate that the world is ending, a prediction that's actually thousands of years
old.
132. banal
If something is boring and unoriginal, it's banal. Banal things are dull
133. dilettante
A dilettante is an amateur, often one who pretends to be very knowledgeable.
, the word implies you're pretending to be more of an artist than you're interested in

22. or capable of being, so if you call your friend who likes to paint a dilettante, it's like
you're calling him or her a poser.
134. flair
Use the word flair to refer to someone’s knack or natural talent for something.
Someone might have a flair for throwing fantastic parties, or a flair for solving
complex math problems.
135. asperity
Asperity is the harsh tone or behavior people exhibit when they’re angry, impatient,
or just miserable.
136. cupidity
Remember the saying ―Greed is good‖? It could just as easily be ―Cupidity is good,‖
Cupidity means a burning desire to have more wealth than you need.
137. exhort
French roots for the word exhort mean "thoroughly encourage," so to exhort is to fill
up with encouragement! "When he heard the crowd exhort him with stomping and
cheers, he knew that he could finish the marathon."
138. gusto
You can do many things with gusto, or hearty enthusiasm, whether playing cricket, or
cheering on your favorite team. Some people live their whole lives with gusto
139. enervate
To enervate is to weaken, wear down, or even bum out. A three-hour lecture on the
history would enervate most people. To enervate someone is to sap their energy,
When something enervates you, it does more than get on your nerves; it brings you
down.

23. 140. cajole
To cajole someone is to persuade them by using insincere compliments or promises.
If you say "Please, pretty-please, I'll be your best friend," when asking for a stick of
gum, you are cajoling the gum holder.
141. dais
A speaker stands on a dais, or a platform, when giving a presentation.
142. pejorative
Call a word or phrase pejorative if it is used as a disapproving expression or a term
of abuse.
143. prerogative
A prerogative is someone's special right or privilege. Must have heard the song by
Britney Spears
"Everybody's talking all this stuff about me
Why don't they just let me live?
I don't need permission, make my own decisions
That's my prerogative
144. mundane
An ordinary, unexciting thing can be called mundane
"Superman hid his heroic feats by posing as his mundane alter ego, Clark Kent.
145. virtuoso
A virtuoso is an incredibly talented musician. You can also be a virtuoso in non-
musical fields.
A politician who helps pass a lot of bills might be called a legislative virtuoso. A
baseball player who hits a lot of home runs is a slugging virtuoso. Usually, this word
applies to music. It's very common for a talented pianist or guitarist to be called a
virtuoso. Whatever your talent, it's a huge compliment to be called a virtuoso.

24. 146. enrapture
To enrapture someone is cast an irresistible spell over them, to make them feel
"rapture." I was enraptured by her gorgeous voice
when someone enraptures another person, they're creating a feeling of wonder,
enchantment, and delight that recalls that heavenly feeling. On our first date, I was
so enraptured by his charm, humor, and good looks, I knew we would spend our
lives together.
147. revelry
Revelry is a wild, fun time. If you enjoy the revelry of a New Year's Eve party, you
might pay for partying hard the next day.
The noun revelry means merrymaking, but because it comes from the French word
reveler meaning to rebel, its tone indicates carousing or noisy partying. revelry is a
full-throttle festive gathering, where people outwardly enjoy themselves.
148. platitude
If an executive gives a speech that begins, "This business is all about survival of the
fittest. You need to burn the midnight oil and take one for the team," his employees
might get sick of listening to these meaningless clichés and tell him to cut the
platitudes.
means a trite or obvious remark
149. immaculate
Immaculate means spotless, pure, and clean as fresh snow on a far-off mountain.
150. platonic
Platonic describes a relationship that is purely spiritual and not physical. If a guy and
a girl hang out all the time but aren't boyfriend and girlfriend, they'd describe their
friendship as platonic.
Platonic love and platonic friendships are marked by the absence of physical or
sexual desire.
platonic word is used in a famous dialogue of Rajat in Pyaar ka punchnama 2

25. 151. credence
Credence means truthfulness, or believability
Meena talked a lot about the ghost in her house. To most, her story had little
credence, but I like a good ghost story, and so, decided to believe.
152. ambiguous
Look to the adjective ambiguous when you need to describe something that's open
to more than one interpretation
Something ambiguous is unclear or vague, like the end of a short story that leaves
you scratching your head.
153. ambivalent
If you can't decide how you feel about something, declare yourself ambivalent about
it.
154. extravagant
Extravagant is an adjective that means expensive, excessive, and over the top.
155. discreet
Discreet describes someone or something that is appropriately quiet, prudent, and
restrained.
Often people use discreet not only to indicate modesty or carefulness, but also to
show a sort of secretiveness
156. unprecedented
Something that is unprecedented is not known, experienced, or done before.
157. repatriate
When a country repatriates people, they are usually refugees who are being sent
back to their homeland, often against their wishes.

26. 158. coffer
A coffer is a small safe or lockbox that's meant for keeping precious or valuable
items safe.
159. stature
Stature is the another way to say "height of a person,"
means "a high level of respect gained by achievement." For example, after you win a
Nobel Prize in literature, your new stature will bring new fans, more sales of your
book, invitations to many exclusive dinner parties, and maybe even your picture on
magazine covers all over the world.
160. sparse
Something that’s sparse is thin, not dense.
The room was sparsely furnished
161. affliction
An affliction makes you suffer, but you have to deal with it anyway. Diseases are
often said to be afflictions, but the word can mean just about anything that causes
great suffering.
The word can also be used as an exaggeration of something that isn't so bad––
"Homework is often seen as an affliction by students and parents alike."
162. pittance
A pittance is a tiny payment or small reimbursement for work — generally an amount
that's inadequate. The restaurant may pay you a pittance, but you can do well if you
get a lot of good tips.
163. clout
When you speak of someone having clout, it usually means that they communicate a
sense of power or influence, particularly in the political sense.
Clout can also mean to hit someone really hard — either the hit you give or the act of

27. hitting (―she clouted him with a baseball bat‖). Of course, the sense of having power
and the actual hitting are related
164. indignantly
If you are indignant about something, you're offended and mad because someone
did something unfair. If you get an F on a paper you worked hard on and that you
know is good, you might indignantly demand that your teacher explains the poor
grade.
165. glut
A glut is too much of something. A glut of gas in the marketplace can lower its price.
166. irreverent
If you are irreverent, you don’t show respect toward something,
To be irreverent doesn’t necessarily mean you don't like something; it’s just that you
don’t display the same honor for it that other people do. You might have a more light-
hearted approach, poking fun of the way other people seem to almost blindly show
their devotion.
167. nimble
If you're nimble, you can move quickly and with ease
meaning "quick to grasp," can refer to one's mental quickness or physical agility.
168. vitality
Are you full of life? Vigorous and energetic? Lucky you. You have vitality, the state of
being strong and in great health.
Vitality also has the general meaning of "life force," as in the mysterious power that
separates the living from the dead.
169. exacerbate
For a formal-sounding verb that means to make worse, try exacerbate. If you're in
trouble, complaining about it will only exacerbate the problem.

28. A drought will exacerbate a country's food shortage. Worsen, intensify, aggravate
and compound are similar, but exacerbate has the sense of an irritant being added in
to make something bad even worse.
170. emasculate
When you emasculate something or someone, you take away its strength.
171. frenzied
The adjective frenzied describes something wild, excited, or rushed. You may have a
frenzied morninng when you've overslept and need to get lunches made, the dog
walked, and the kids off to school within the next fifteen minutes. Run!
172. buoyancy
Buoyancy is a quality that makes things float in water. It's also a type of happiness: if
you're full of buoyancy, your mood is light and happy.
173. enraged
To be enraged is to be full of anger. Enraged people are in a fury.
Rage is anger, and when you're enraged, you are extremely angry.
174. scorn
Scorn is open disrespect for someone or something. It can also be disrespect
coupled with feelings of intense dislike.
The noun scorn describes your feelings of disdain when you encounter something
you view as worthless or inferior
175. plight
A plight is a situation that's hard to get out of. Learning about the plight of very poor
people trying rebuild their homes after a devastating earthquake might inspire you to
send money to a charity

29. 176. infiltrate
If you infiltrate a group or organization, you join it in order to gain information,
Infiltrate is a verb that is familiar to international spies and undercover agents, who
are all adept at joining a group under false pretenses, fitting in, and working their way
up to the highest ranks in order to find out as much information as they can about the
group.