| Backpedal: Modify one's opinion, make it less strong |
| Politicians generally find it hard to backpedal on their publicly stated positions. |
| Compound: Add or increase |
| Strong winds compounded the difficulties of the fire-fighters. |
| Caustic: Harsh or corrosive in tone |
| He heaped caustic comments on his opponents. |
| Voracious: Very Greedy |
| Ram is a voracious shopkeeper who over-charges all his clients. |
| Indiscriminate: Not making or based on careful distinctions |
| The indiscriminate marking by the teacher led to the failure of a number of students. |
| Eminent: Of high rank or importance |
| Some eminent members of the society helped in rehabilitating the slum-dwellers in the city. |
| Matron: Supervisor or monitor |
| The hospital matron was very strict with the new nurses. |
| Paradox: Contradiction |
| It is a strange paradox that standing is more tiring than walking , |
| Realm: Kingdom |
| The priest lived in an idyllic realm of contentment and self-indulgence. |
| Throng: A large gathering of people |
| The crowds thronged the stadium of the rock concert. |
| Accost: Speak to someone |
| He was accosted in the street by four men. |
| Plethora: Extreme excess |
| There was a plethora of toys in Santa’s bag. |
| Felon: Someone who has committed a crime. |
| As a convicted felon he was sent to prison. |
| Fabricate: Make up something artificial or untrue |
| He fabricated a lie to save his life. |
| Gesticulate: Show, express or direct through movement |
| He gesticulated to call them near. |
| Vigilant: Carefully observant or attentive. |
| It was difficult to escape the vigilant eye of the town watch. |
| Avid: Ardently or excessively desirous |
| She was an avid reader of literary books. |
| Enhance: Increase |
| This condiment will enhance the flavour of the meal. |
| Jostle: To come in rough contact while moving; push and shove |
| The passengers jostled each other in the overcrowded train. |
| Steeped: To soak in liquid/devote oneself fully |
| The peach blossoms were soaked in oil to be able to take out their fragrance. |
| Replete: Fill to satisfaction |
| The cricket match was replete with excitement and great plays. |
| Abound: In large quantities |
| In spring, the gardens abound with flowers. |
| Automaton: Robot |
| Only an automaton wouldn’t have noticed the hectic activity on the busy street. |
| Annals: Chronological records |
| The king is mentioned several times in annals of the period of his rule. |
| Perceive: To become conscious of something |
| She finally managed to perceive the truth. |
| Laconic: Brief and to the point |
| Whenever you ask him a tricky question, he gives a laconic reply. |
| Reticent: Cool and formal in manner |
| The students were very reticent to discuss their work. |
| Hapless: Deserving or inciting pity |
| The poor became hapless victims of a ruthless society. |
| Irate: Feeling or showing extreme anger |
| Irate protesters came onto the streets against corruption. |
| Prognosticate: To portend |
| The latest date of urban renewal prognosticates a social and cultural renaissance. |
| Badger: Annoy persistently |
| The beggar badgered the tourists constantly till they gave him some money. |
| Implore: Entreat |
| The victim implored the tribunal to have mercy. |
| Drudgery: Hard, menial work |
| The loss of a maid added to the drudgery of the housekeeper. |
| Interminable: Tiresomely long |
| The interminable sermon almost put the congregation to sleep. |
| Intrepid: Invulnerable to fear |
| All super heroes are intrepid people. |
| Furtive: Secret and sly or sordid |
| He was a young man with furtive eyes. |
| Pretext: Something serving to conceal plans |
| Under the pretext of friendship, he betrayed them. |
| Adroit: Quick or skilful |
| He is an adroit negotiator when it comes to cracking business deals. |
| Cajole: To persuade by flattery or urging |
| He cajoled her into going along with him to the movies. |
| Reprimand: Rebuke formally |
| The customer rebuked the waiter for bringing cold soup. |
