1. ENVISAGE
Parts of Speech:
Verb
Meaning:
To imagine, visualize, or foresee something happening in the future.
Synonyms:
Imagine, visualize, foresee, contemplate
Antonyms:
Ignore, disregard, overlook, neglect
Sentence:
She envisaged a future where renewable energy would power the entire city.
Exam-Oriented Tip:
“Envisage” is commonly used in editorial and economic articles to describe future planning or vision.
2. GRAVE
Parts of Speech:
Adjective
Meaning:
Serious, solemn, or causing concern and worry.
Synonyms:
Serious, solemn, somber, earnest
Antonyms:
Cheerful, light-hearted, trivial, frivolous
Sentence:
His grave expression revealed the seriousness of the situation.
Exam-Oriented Tip:
“Grave” is often used in banking and political editorials to indicate severe situations.
3. INCEPTION
Parts of Speech:
Noun
Meaning:
The beginning, origin, or starting point of something.
Synonyms:
Beginning, commencement, origin, initiation
Antonyms:
Conclusion, ending, termination, closure
Sentence:
The organization has expanded rapidly since its inception in 2005.
Exam-Oriented Tip:
Frequently used in business, startup, and policy-related articles.
4. TRAVERSE
Parts of Speech:
Verb
Meaning:
To travel across, move through, or pass over an area or terrain.
Synonyms:
Cross, navigate, trek, journey
Antonyms:
Remain, stay, stop, settle
Sentence:
The explorers had to traverse dense forests to reach the remote village.
Exam-Oriented Tip:
Important word for reading comprehension and descriptive passages.
5. STRIDENT
Parts of Speech:
Adjective
Meaning:
Loud, harsh, and unpleasant in sound or manner.
Synonyms:
Shrill, piercing, harsh, discordant
Antonyms:
Soft, gentle, calm, mellow
Sentence:
The strident noise from the construction site disturbed the nearby residents.
Exam-Oriented Tip:
Commonly appears in newspaper editorials and opinion pieces.
6. TRAMPING
Parts of Speech:
Verb
Meaning:
Walking heavily or over long distances, especially through rough areas.
Synonyms:
Hiking, trekking, wandering, rambling
Antonyms:
Resting, relaxing, staying, lounging
Sentence:
They spent the afternoon tramping through the hills and enjoying the scenery.
Exam-Oriented Tip:
Useful for vocabulary-based sentence completion questions.
7. PICTURESQUE
Parts of Speech:
Adjective
Meaning:
Visually attractive, charming, and scenic in appearance.
Synonyms:
Scenic, charming, beautiful, attractive
Antonyms:
Ugly, unattractive, dull, unpleasant
Sentence:
The picturesque lakeside village attracted tourists from around the world.
Exam-Oriented Tip:
Often used in travel, geography, and descriptive passages.
8. NEBULOUS
Parts of Speech:
Adjective
Meaning:
Unclear, vague, or lacking a definite form or meaning.
Synonyms:
Vague, ambiguous, unclear, indistinct
Antonyms:
Clear, precise, definite, distinct
Sentence:
His explanation of the plan remained nebulous and difficult to understand.
Exam-Oriented Tip:
A high-frequency editorial vocabulary word for SSC and Banking exams.
9. EUPHEMISM
Parts of Speech:
Noun
Meaning:
A mild or indirect expression used instead of one that may sound harsh or offensive.
Synonyms:
Indirect expression, understatement, polite term, mild expression
Antonyms:
Dysphemism, bluntness, directness
Sentence:
“Passed away” is a common euphemism for death.
Exam-Oriented Tip:
Important for grammar, vocabulary, and communication-based questions.
10. SUBSERVIENT
Parts of Speech:
Adjective
Meaning:
Excessively obedient or willing to serve others without question.
Synonyms:
Obedient, submissive, compliant, servile
Antonyms:
Assertive, independent, dominant, self-reliant
Sentence:
The manager disliked employees who were overly subservient and never shared their own opinions.
Exam-Oriented Tip:
Frequently used in social, political, and workplace-related editorials.
One-Line Revision Notes
- Envisage = Imagine the future
- Grave = Serious
- Inception = Beginning
- Traverse = Cross or travel through
- Strident = Harsh and loud
- Tramping = Walking heavily
- Picturesque = Beautiful scenery
- Nebulous = Unclear or vague
- Euphemism = Mild expression
- Subservient = Excessively obedient
Practice Quiz
1. Which word means “unclear or vague”?
A) Grave
B) Nebulous
C) Traverse
D) Picturesque
✅ Answer: B) Nebulous
2. “Inception” means:
A) Ending
B) Journey
C) Beginning
D) Discussion
✅ Answer: C) Beginning
3. Which word refers to a mild expression replacing a harsh one?
A) Euphemism
B) Traverse
C) Grave
D) Tramping
✅ Answer: A) Euphemism
4. The antonym of “Subservient” is:
A) Obedient
B) Servile
C) Assertive
D) Compliant
✅ Answer: C) Assertive
5. Which word means “to travel across”?
A) Envisage
B) Traverse
C) Grave
D) Nebulous
✅ Answer: B) Traverse