Develop Practical Vocabulary

How often do you come across words that are unfamiliar as you read? Don’t just gloss over them; take the time to look them up, and if you don’t have the time right then, write them down and look them up later.

1. GARGANTUAN (ADJECTIVE):

meaning: enormous

Synonyms: massive, huge

Antonyms: tiny

Example: Tigers and lions have a gargantuan appetite.

2. COMPLACENT (ADJECTIVE):

meaning: smug

Synonyms: self-satisfied, self-approving

Antonyms: dissatisfied

Example: You can’t afford to be complacent about security.

3. SLOPPY (ADJECTIVE):

meaning: : careless

Synonyms: slapdash, slipshod

Antonyms: careful

Example: We gave away a goal through sloppy defending.

4. OFFENSIVE (ADJECTIVE):

meaning:: insulting

Synonyms: rude, derogatory

Antonyms: complimentary

Example : The allegations made are deeply offensive to us.

5. FLAWED (ADJECTIVE):

meaning:  unsound

Synonyms: defective, faulty

Antonyms: sound

Example : It was absolutely a fatally flawed strategy.

6 .HUDDLE (VERB):

meaning:  crowd

Synonyms: gather, throng

Antonyms: disperse

Example : They huddled together for ensuring warmth.

7. AMBITIOUS (ADJECTIVE):

meaning:  aspiring

Synonyms: determined, forceful

Antonyms: unambitious

Example : She is a typical ambitious workaholic.

8. INNATE (ADJECTIVE):

meaning:  inborn

Synonyms: natural, inbred

Antonyms: acquired

Example : Her innate capacity for organization.

9. DISPENSE (VERB)

meaning:  waive

Synonyms: omit, drop

Antonyms: include

Example : Let’s dispense with the formalities, shall we?”

10. BARBARIC (ADJECTIVE):

meaning: cruel

Synonyms: brutal, barbarous

Antonyms: benevolent

Example : He carried out barbaric acts in the name of war