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Antonyms
ANTONYMS
Antonym is a word that means the opposite of another word. ‘good’ is an antonym of ‘bad.’
accept | x | refuse | kind | x | cruel | |||||||
ability | 1nability | knowledge | x | Ignorance | ||||||||
acceptance | x | refusal/rejection | lack | x | Abundance | |||||||
Advance | X | Retreat | .law | x | Inequity | |||||||
adversity | X | Prosperity | length | x | Width | |||||||
affluence | X | Poverty | .Liberty | X | Slavery | |||||||
ancestor | X | Descendant | Master | X | Servant | |||||||
Aristocracy | X | Democracy | Melody | X | discord | |||||||
armament
Arm |
x
X |
disarmament
disarm |
memory
|
X | oblivion | |||||||
Arrival | X | Departure | Miser | X | Spendthrift | |||||||
Ascent | X | Descent | Mistress | X | Maid | |||||||
Attachment | X | Detachment | Motion | X | Rest | |||||||
Attack | X | Defense | night | X | day | |||||||
bring | x | take | new | x | old | |||||||
Body | X | Soul | Pain | X | Pleasure | |||||||
Boon | X | Bane | Patriot | X | Traitor | |||||||
Brave | X | Coward | Peace | X | War | |||||||
Care | X | Neglect | Plaintiff | X | Defendant | |||||||
Confidence | X | Diffidence | Poetry | X | Prose | |||||||
Consent | X | Dissent | Poison | X | Antidote | |||||||
Creation | X | Destruction | Praise | X | Blame | |||||||
Debit | X | Credit | predecessor | X | Successor | |||||||
Debtor | X | Creditor | Presence | X | Absence | |||||||
Defense | X | Offense | Pride | X | Humility | |||||||
Deficit | X | Surplus | Prosperity | X | Adversity | |||||||
Dwarf | X | Giant | Punishment | X | Reward | |||||||
Elevation | X | Depression | Question | X | Answer | |||||||
Enjoyment | X | Suffering | Recovery | X | Relapse | |||||||
Entrance | X | Exit | Right | X | Left/wrong | |||||||
Failure | X | Success | roar | x | Whisper | |||||||
Flattery | X | Detraction | Ruler | X | Subject | |||||||
Fortune | X | Misfortune | Saint | X | Sinner | |||||||
Freedom | X | Slavery | Simplicity | X | Complexity/
duplicity |
|||||||
Friend | X | Enemy | Smile | X | Sigh | |||||||
Front | X | Rear | Storm | X | Calm | |||||||
gain | X | Loss | Synthesis | X | Analysis | |||||||
glory | X | Shame | Theory | X | Practice | |||||||
gratitude | X | Ingratitude | Time | X | Eternity | |||||||
guest | X | Host | Top | X | Bottom | |||||||
happiness | X | Misery | Tragedy | X | comedy | |||||||
haste | X | leisure | Unity | X | Diversity | |||||||
head | X | Tail/foot | Use | X | Abuse | |||||||
heaven | x | Hell/earth | Victory | X | Defeat | |||||||
hero | x | villain | Violence | X | Non-violence | |||||||
honour | x | dishonour | Virtue | X | Vice | |||||||
hope | x | Hopeless/despair | Volunteer | X | Conscript | |||||||
imagination | x | reality | Water | X | Land | |||||||
Whole | X | Part | Foreign | X | Native | |||||||
Wisdom | X | Folly | Frank | X | Reserved | |||||||
Word | X | Deed | Friendly | X | Hostile | |||||||
Work | X | Rest | Fresh | X | Stale | |||||||
Absolute | X | Relative | Full | X | Empty | |||||||
Abstract | X | Concrete | Gain | X | Lose | |||||||
Absurd | X | Reasonable | Genuine | X | Spurious | |||||||
Active | X | Passive | General | X | Particular | |||||||
Affirmative | X | Negative | Special | X | Polite | |||||||
Ancient | X | Modern | Hard | X | Soft/easy | |||||||
Animate | X | Inanimate | Heavy | X | Light | |||||||
Barren | X | Fertile | High | X | Low | |||||||
Barbaric | X | Civil | Honest | X | Dishonest/corrupt | |||||||
Beautiful | X | Ugly | Hot | X | Cold | |||||||
Beneficial | X | Harmful | humble | X | Proud/haughty | |||||||
Big | X | Little | Ill | X | Well | |||||||
Blunt | X | Sharp | Immanent | X | Transcendent | |||||||
Brave(ry) | X | Coward(ice) | Important | X | Unimportant | |||||||
Busy | X | Idle | Industrious | X | Idle | |||||||
Broad | X | Broad | Innocent | X | Guilty | |||||||
Carnal/
temporal |
X |
Spiritual |
Junior
young |
X
x |
Senior
old |
|||||||
Civilized | X | Uncivilized/wild | Kind | X | Cruel | |||||||
Cheap | X | Dear | Liberal | X | Conservative | |||||||
cheerful | X | Gloomy | Literate | X | Illiterate | |||||||
clean | X | Dirty | Literal | X | Figurative | |||||||
clothed | X | Naked | Logical | X | Illogical | |||||||
common | X | Uncommon/rare | Long | X | Short | |||||||
concise | X | Elaborate | Loud | X | Soft/low | |||||||
cooked | X | Raw | Male | X | Female | |||||||
courageous | X | Timid | Masculine | X | Feminine | |||||||
dark | X | Light | Material | X | Spiritual | |||||||
Deep | X | Shallow | Maximum | X | Minimum | |||||||
Difficult | X | Easy | mighty | X | weak | |||||||
Domestic | X | Wild | Mortal | X | Immortal | |||||||
Dull | X | Bright/interesting | Native | X | Foreign | |||||||
eligible | X | Ineligible | Natural | X | Unnatural | |||||||
Exotic | X | Indigenous | New | X | Old | |||||||
Explicit | X | Implicit | Noble | X | Ignoble | |||||||
Fair | X | Foul | Nominal | X | Real/actual | |||||||
False | X | True | Objective | X | Subjective | |||||||
Famous | X | Notorious/
Infamous |
Obverse | X | Reverse | |||||||
Fast | X | Loose | Odd | X | Even | |||||||
Fine | X | Coarse | Oral | X | Written | |||||||
Fir | X | Flaccid | original | X | Duplicate | |||||||
flexible | X | Rigid | polite | X | impolite | |||||||
warm | x | Cool | Vertical | X | Horizontal | |||||||
wet | x | Dry | Vigorous | X | Feeble | |||||||
white | x | Black | Voluntary | X | compulsory | |||||||
weak | x | strong | wild | x | tame |
pure | x | polluted | thoughtful | x | thoughtless |
Positive | X | negative | thick | X | thin |
progressive | X | Retrogressive | Laugh | X | Weep/cry |
Quick | X | Slow | Lead | X | Follow |
Quiet | X | Noisy | Like | X | Dislike |
Rash | X | Cautious | Love | X | Hate |
Rational | X | Irrational | Offer | X | Offer |
Raw | X | Ripe | Open | X | Open |
Relative | X | Absolute | Precede | X | Succeed/follow |
Religious | X | Secular | Rejoice | X | Lament |
Rough | X | Smooth | Remember | X | Forget |
Sacred | X | Profane | Reveal | X | Conceal |
Sensitive | X | Callous | Resist | X | Submit/surrender |
Severe | X | Mild | Sleep | X | Awake |
Sick | X | Well | Sink | X | Float |
Sprightly | X | Dull | teach | X | learn |
Straight | X | Crooked/curved | here | X | There |
Strange | X | Familiar | Now | X | Then |
Strong | X | Weak | Often | X | Seldom |
Strict | X | Lenient | Above | X | Below/beneath |
Superior | X | Inferior | At home | X | Abroad |
Sweet | X | Sour/bitter | For | X | Against |
Tall | X | Short | In | X | Out |
Accept | X | Reject | Off | X | On |
Accuse | X | Defend | Over | X | Under |
Acquit | X | Convict/condemn | up | X | down |
Admit | X | Discharge/repudiate | Abandon | X | Keep |
Agree | X | Disagree/differ | Abolish | X | Establish |
Allow | X | Forbid | Above | X | Below |
Arrest | X | Release/free | Abundance | X | Scarcity |
Attract | X | Distract/repel | Abstract | X | Concrete |
Begin | X | End | Acquit | X | Convict |
Buy | X | Sell | Admit | X | Expel |
Compare | X | contrast | Admire | X | Despise |
Confess | X | Deny | Adversity | X | Prosperity |
Consent | X | Dissent | Admonish | X | Praise |
Create | X | Destroy | Affirm | X | Deny |
Earn | X | Spend | Agreeable | X | Disagreeable |
Encourage | X | Discourage | Artificial | X | Natural |
Expedite | X | Delay | Ascend | X | Descend |
Gather | X | Scatter | Assent | X | Dissent |
Go | X | Come | Awake | X | Asleep |
hide | X | Seek | Asset | X | Liability |
Vague | X | Definite | Always | X | Never |
wise | x | Foolish | Attack | X | Defend |
Hit | x | miss | Arrogant | X | Humble |
import | x | export | awkward | X | Beautiful |
Include | x | Exclude | Alien | X | Native |
increase | x | decrease | Ample | X | Scanty |
insert | x | Delete | Amateur | X | Professional |
Try to make sentences with the words given above.
It is easy to exclude people from a conversation.
It is a good policy to include all the members in a discussion.
Homonyms and Homophones
Homonym is a word that sounds the same as another word but differs in meaning. Homonyms can refer to both homophones and homographs.
A homophone is a word that is pronounced the same as another word but differs in meaning and is spelled differently.
Homographs are words with the same spelling but having more than one meaning.
Homonym– Example- see -sea
Homograph -Example- band- band
Study the meaning and spelling of the words
advice | guidance | advise | recommend |
ale
|
alcoholic drink | ail | sick |
alms | charity | arms |
part of the body
|
alter |
change |
altar |
sacred place of worship
|
assent
|
agree | ascent |
to climb
|
band | a group | banned | prevented,
prohibited |
bear | animal,
to carry a weight to tolerate |
bare | naked,
empty expose |
bail
|
freedom against secrecy , to bring out
|
bale | a heap or a bundle, eg. cotton |
birth | give life to | berth | sleeping place |
bridal | pertaining to a bride | bridle | control |
blue | colour | blew |
to use pressure ,air
|
break |
destroy | brake | to put a stop to |
bred | brought up | bread | food |
canvass
|
to ask for to propagate, | canvas | a board for painting , material |
cease | stop | seize |
to catch with force
|
course | path, a sphere of study | coarse | rough |
coat | item of clothing put on ,
to cover |
court | an institution for justice,
to run after
|
council | a group of persons | counsel | give advice |
desert | arid land no water, to leave | dessert |
fruit taken after a meal
|
die | come to an end | dye | to colour |
dissent | disagree | descent |
climb down
|
dual |
two , double |
duel |
fight between two
|
flour | fine powder | floor | ground |
foul | bad | fowl | bird |
fair | honest, just,
light coloured, a place where all goods are sold |
fare | cost of a ticket,
food
|
great
|
big | grate | grate flour to fine powder , grate vegetables |
hail | greet | hale | strong wind and rain |
hole | opening | whole | full |
hoard | to collect | horde | large crowd |
lessen | decrease | lesson | something to study |
loan | lend, borrow | lone | single |
|
post | male | masculine |
main | most imp | mien | thick hair |
maize | corn | maze | confused, puzzle made of confusing paths |
metal | object | mettle |
integrity ,strength
|
might | possible | mite | a small amount |
night
|
part of day , dark | knight | an important person |
ore | metal | oar | pole to row a boat |
pair | two | pear | fruit, pare |
pale | lack of colour | pail | a bucket |
peace | calm | piece | small amount
portion |
peak | topmost point | peek | a small glance |
plain | simple | plane | vehicle of transport,
a flat surface
|
plays | dramas/games | place |
a location
|
pole | a post | poll | survey |
pour | to distribute | pore | an opening in the body
to look with concentration
|
pray | a petition | prey |
to depend on parasite
|
principal | main person, main amount | principle |
rule
|
prize
|
reward/ award | price | cost |
rain | down pour | reign | rule |
rein | control , a strap for controlling a horse | ||
raise | to heighten | race |
a run , a community
|
raze | to destroy | ||
rite | a custom | write | to note |
right | correct | right | direction |
role | a part | roll | a list, to move around
|
sale | to buy or sell | sail |
to move forward
|
sell | to make a deal | cell |
a part of the body, a small room in a prison
|
sight | view | site | a place |
cite | to quote | ||
sole |
single | soul |
atman : inner part, that which resides within
|
sore | angry | soar |
fly high
|
sour | bitter | ||
stationery | books, papers etc | stationary |
still , no movement
|
steal
|
rob | steel | metal |
story | a tale | storey |
part of a building
|
straight-
|
in one direction | strait | narrow |
tale | story | tail | to follow, an appendage at the back of the body |
tied | to bind | tide | to get over, a part of water |
veil | covering | vale | a place , a valley |
wail | to cry | ||
vine | grape creeper | wine | a drink |
whine | to complain | ||
vile | wicked | while | during |
wait | to expect something to happen | weight |
measure
|
waste | unwanted, unnecessary, useless | waist |
part of the body
|
wave | ripple on the sea
surge in activity moving the hand |
waive | to give up something
to refrain from
|
weak | not strong | week | days |
whole | full or complete | hole | an opening |
yoke | to tie | yolk | Inner part of egg |
Make sentences with the words .
Bring out your creativity..
This is a tale of a cat without a tail.
Don’t whine for wine.
I want to see the sea.
You can sell the cell.
The robber wanted to steal the steel box.
It’s not right to follow rites in a blind fashion.
He was the lone individual to take a loan.
Words in different parts of speech
Same words with different meanings.
Read and understand the sentences.
Air : This air is pure.
You should not always air your views.
Don’t put on airs.
Bar : I want a bar of chocolate.
Don’t bar him from entering the room.
He is practicing in the bar.
Book : Please give me your book.
I want to book my ticket.
The police tried to book the thief.
Bank : Don’t bank on him.
He loves to sit on the bank of the river.
You have to open an account in the bank.
Act : I love to act in plays.
Don’t try to act smart.
This is a one- act play.
Principal: Who is the principal of your college?
I want to keep the principal intact.
Please credit the interest on the principal into my account.
Place : From which place do you come?
What place did you secure?
Account I want to open an account.
He gave an interesting account of his journey.
It is good to maintain an account.
He lost his grade on account of his illness.
Let us place him in the accounts department.
Count: Can you count the birds on the tree?
Don’t count on him. He will not join us.
On which count are you punishing him?
Race : They are from a primitive race.
I always participate in the race.
Face : Wash your face.
I cannot face him.
Plant : The plant has withered.
Please don’t plant such ideas in his mind.
The plant has been closed down.
Industry: The secret of success lies in industry.
The industry is on a profit spree.
Hand : Wash your hand.
Give me a hand please.
The thief gave the police a hand.
He has no hand in this matter.
Trace : The police could not trace him.
Trace the map.
The thief did not leave any trace for the police.
Interest She has an abiding interest in painting.
What is the present rate of interest?
Play : I love to play chess.
Have you seen the play ‘Harischandra’?
Board: How much did you pay for your board and lodging.
I have to board the train in a few hours.
Just look at that sign board.
Water: Please water the plants.
There is no water in the tank.
The Management tried to water down the project.
Dear : Vegetables have become dear.
The matter is dear to my heart.
Drop : There isn’t a drop of oil.
Don’t drop the vase.
The Govt. will not drop the issue.
The captain did not want to drop the young player from the team.
Bore : I think Geography is a real bore.
You have to bore deep into ground to get water.
He bore the weight with a smile.
Head : Don’t turn your head.
Murthy will head the search party.
He has no head for such matters.
I think we have to head towards the north.
Back : I have a catch in my back.
When will he be back?
We must back our friends.
Can I back the car here?
Light : This bag is very light.
There is no light in the balcony.
The police were unable to throw any light on the crime.
File : They walked in a file.
File the papers.
Put the papers in the new file.
It is not easy to file an FIR.
Frame: It’s a beautiful frame.
Don’t frame charges on innocent people.
House: The house is magnificent.
Many valuables are housed in the museum
Block : The building blocks the view of the river.
He lives in the second block.
Cover: The thief took cover in the bushes.
Cover your eyes.
Give me a cover.
Grave: Don’t look so grave.
This is the grave of Ruth.
The situation was grave.
Manual: He does a lot of manual labour.
Do you have the manual?
Sign : Sign the letter.
There is no sign of the fishermen.
Pine : The pine tree is a sight to see.
The old always pine for the past.
Table : Put the book on the table.
The document has to be tabled.
Pen : This is a Parker pen.
You must always pen your thoughts.
Point : Don’t point your fingers.
The pencil has a sharp point.
There is no point in arguing.
You have a point there.
He was unable to score a single point.
Sleep : Don’t sleep over the matter.
I had a good sleep.
Copy : Do not copy others
Do you have a copy of this photograph?
Slip : Give me a slip of paper.
Be careful, you may slip.
The thief gave a slip to the police.
Bat : I have bought a new bat.
There are many bats in this ancient temple.
He did not bat an eyelid.
Wave : The wave in the sea looks beautiful.
The leader waved to the crowds
There is a wave of support for him.
Fine : The absentees have to pay a fine.
It was a fine deal.
The weather is fine.
Train : You should train the horse.
They walked in a train.
I missed the train.
Left : Turn to the left.
He left his bag at home.
Pass : Please pass the book to me.
You have to pass the mountain.
Will I pass the driving test?
This too will pass.
Bear : Can you bear the weight?
Is that a bear?
Right : He is always right.
Use your right hand.
Sound: I am in sound health.
What a terrible sound!
Might: I might find the treasure.
He is a man of might.
Firm : He works in the big firm.
My father is very firm in his views.
Rule : This is an important rule.
Asoka’s rule was just.
Match: The match was delayed due to rain.
He is no match to Ali.
My parents are on the lookout for a match for my brother.
Stick : Take a big stick.
Stick it on the wall.
Please don’t stick on to old ideas.
Seal : Let us seal the deal.
Seal the cover before you post it.
Are there any seals in the river?
Minute: Wait a minute, won’t you?
Don’t worry about the minute details.
Cold : It’s very cold.
She gave him a very cold look.
Fire : Light the fire.
Your boss will fire you.
Blow : Blow out the candle.
The robber dealt a terrible blow.
Soil : This soil is fertile.
Don’t soil your clothes.
Paper : I want a sheet of paper.
He presented a paper at the conference
Root : Don’t pull out the root.
Look into the root of the matter.
Rock : That’s a beautiful rock.
Rock the cradle.
Fare : What’s the fare to Chennai?
The hostel fare is good.
Gun : He is a big gun.
The robber was armed with a gun.
Field : The farmer lost his field.
The Minister refused to field any questions.
The players left the field.
Paint : Is there any paint left?
Don’t paint him as a coward.
Star : He is the star attraction of the crowd.
He did not star in the film.
Did you see the falling star?
Mine : He is a mine of information.
That book is mine.
He works in a mine.
Mind : My mind is in a turmoil.
Please don’t mind me.
Farm : I want an application form.
It’s difficult to form an opinion.
You must be in form.
Please form a circle.
Account I want to open an account.
It is good to maintain an account.
He lost his grade on account of his illness.
He gave an interesting account of his journey
Notice. : I did not notice the change.
I have to give one month notice to my boss.
Have you read the notice?
Try to make different sentences with the words given above.
Words often confused
Same words having different meaning
Words often confused
Air : This air is pure.
You should not always air your views.
Don’t put on airs.
Bar : I want a bar of chocolate.
Don’t bar him from entering the room.
He is practicing in the bar.
Book : Please give me your book.
I want to book my ticket.
The police tried to book the thief.
Bank : Don’t bank on him.
He loves to sit on the bank of the river.
You have to open an account in the bank.
Act : I love to act in plays.
Don’t try to act smart.
This is a one- act play.
Principal: Who is the principal of your college?
I want to keep the principal intact.
Please credit the interest on the principal into my account.
Place : From which place do you come?
What place did you secure?
Let us place him in the accounts department.
Rhyming words-Exercise
Read the sentences out aloud. Fill in the blank with the word that rhymes with the word in italics:-
1. I don’t care for the _________. ( animal )
2. Don’t stare like a __________. ( animal)
3. Name and fame are the ________. ( alike or similar )
4. All his mail has been put up for ______ ( money transaction )
5. Be calm and give your ____________. ( part of the hand )
6. Early or late you have to ________ (stay for some time, linger on )
7. He was told to be ______. ( to have courage )
8. He wants to run for _______. ( to be happy, to enjoy oneself )
9. They won by a _________. ( action in a game- cricket )
10. Put off the light before you _______. ( quarrel )
Answers:
- bear,
- bear
- same
- sale
- palm
- wait
- bold
- fun
- run
- fight
Synonyms


Read the words .Learn the spellings and use them in sentences of your own.
Power, strength, force | Useful, advantageous, expedient |
Knowledge, learning, wisdom | Sorrow, grief, agony, anguish |
Anger, wrath, resentment | Gain, attain, achieve |
Absurd, funny, ridiculous | Curse, bane, harm, hurt |
Build, erect, construct | Exile, banish, exile, extradite |
Brave, courageous, gallant | Suffer, bear, endure |
Respect, deference, reverence | Belief, faith, trust |
Timid, shy, diffident | Profit, benefit, gain |
Frank, candid, ingenuous | Build, make, construct, develop, create, synthesize |
Event, occurrence | Busy, engaged, occupied |
Unnecessary, needless | Frank, outspoken, candid |
Clear, evident | Arrest, apprehend, capture |
Tell, say, describe, illustrate, elaborate | Defend, protect, save, security |
Adversity, calamity, misery | Pure, chaste, virtuous |
Imagination, fancy | Hide, conceal, disguise, cover |
Polite, civil, courteous | Praise, applaud, commend |
Cunning, crafty, deceitful | Concern, anxiety, worry |
Pardon, forgive, excuse, apology | Goal, destination, target |
Faith, belief, credulity | Will, determination, resolution, perseverance |
Solitude, loneliness, desolation | Disciple, pupil, student |
Envy, jealousy | Devotee, worshipper, votary |
Tyrant, despot, autocrat | Disaster, tragedy, catastrophe |
Understand, comprehend | Discard, reject, throwaway, trash, scrap |
Gentle, tender, kind | Discord, disagreement, deny, reject |
See, look, behold | Discover, find, discern, excavate, dig |
Return, restore, retreat, comeback | Disgrace, dishonor, insult |
danger, peril, hazard | Show, exhibit, display, disclose |
figure, type, symbol | Dispute, quarrel, controversy, conflict, fight |
Enemy, foe, opponent | Distress, trouble, grief, sorrow, misery, woe |
Censure, reprimand, criticize | Distribute, divide, share |
Savage, barbarian, | Divine, Godlike, superhuman |
Couple, pair, twins | Fearful, awful, dreadful, frightful, horrifying, scary |
Remember, recollect, recapitulate, revise | Attack, assault, aggression |
Vacant, empty, void, desert, clear, vogue | Rise, elevation, ascent, hike, resurrect |
Increase, enlarge, augment | Rude, insolent, impertinent |
Instigate, provoke, incite, inculcate | Give up, forsake, abandon, desert |
Regret, lament, deplore | Help, aid, support |
Rare, scarce, feel bad | Skilful, adept, expert, apt |
Hate, despise, scorn, detest | Confess, acknowledge, admit, |
Recover, regain, | Clash, conflict, controversy |
Strict, harsh, severe | Win, conquer, overcome, achieve, succeed |
Brief, concise, terse, short | Convict, criminal, captive, culprit |
Wit, humor | Adequate, ample, copious, enough, sufficient |
Mistake, error, blunder, crime, defect, fault, mistake, | Corrupt, dishonest, pervert |
Cleverness, dexterity, skill | Grow, cultivate, develop, improve |
Prejudice, bias | Curtail, reduce, shorten, lessen, nip, curb, cut |
Dislike, hatred, aversion, detest | Dead, obsolete, extinct, gone |
Pride, arrogance, insolence | Decide, settle, finalize |
Deduce, infer, conclude | Deed, action, work |
Deliver, redeem, rescue | Defer, delay postpone |
Dejection, despair, despondency, dismay, disappointment | Denounce, censure, accuse |
Demolish, destroy, wreck, ruin | Depict, exhibit, show, expose |
Serious, earnest, solemn | Joy, ecstasy, bliss |
Effort, attempt, endeavor | Emerge, arise, come forth |
Encourage, inspire, embolden | Endure, suffer, sustain |
Huge, enormous, stupendous | Enthusiasm, zeal, fervor |
Entreat, implore, request | Abolish, eradicate, uproot, exterminate, remove |
Eternal, everlasting, perpetual | Fade, dim, vanish, dull, gloomy, light |
Faint, swoon, dim | Fatal, deadly, lethal, |
Fame, renown, repute, honor | Violent, fierce |
Stupid, dull, monotonous | Dynamic, vigorous, forceful |
Courage, patience, endurance | Gift, present |
Gloom, darkness, dejection, dismay, dull | Fearful, gruesome, ghastly |
Hardship, difficulty, calamity | Proud, haughty, arrogant |
Haven, refuge, shelter | Homage, respect, tribute |
Horror, dead, terror | Kind, tender, merciful |
Modest, humble, submissive | Ideal, model, example |
Ignoble, vile, detestable | Illustrious, famous, renown |
Immense, vast, great, huge, gigantic | Immortal, divine, everlasting, never-ending |
Impediment, obstacle, hindrance, hurdle | Continual, unceasing, incessant, nonstop, unending |
Obvious, clear, evident | Offense, affront |
Officious, interfering | Oppressive, tyrannical, cruel |
Oust, evict, remove, eradicate, clear, exterminate | Criminal, outlaw |
Outstanding, remarkable, mark | Overcome, conquer, defeat |
Pact, treaty, agreement | Peak, summit, apex, top |
Pensive, thoughtful, reflective, ponder | Everlasting, perennial, endless |
Perpetual, eternal, ceaseless | Pierce, penetrate, prick, move through, permeate, suck |
Plausible, credible, believable, probable | Plead, urge, solicit |
Pledge, promise, vow, oath | Ponder, think reflect |
Forbid, prohibit | Freedom, liberty, independence |
Indifference, apathy, unconcern | Industrious, diligent |
Abbreviate, abridge, shorten | Abhor, detest, hate, despise |
Affinity, sympathy, kinship | Abundant, copious, ample, plentiful, profuse, bounteous |
Accelerate, hasten, quicken | Accomplish, fulfill, perform, do, complete, achieve, attain, effect |
Adversary, enemy, opponent | Accumulate, amass, collect, store, gather |
Accuse, impeach, arraign | Adversity, misfortune, calamity |
Affliction, trouble, distress, pain, misery, sorrow, grief, calamity, misfortune, disease, suffering | Agitation, disturbance, perturbation, commotion, excitement |
Allure, attract, charm, fascinate, entice, tempt, lure | Anguish, pain, agony, suffering |
Appease, pacify, assuage, mitigate, allay, calm | Aversion, dislike, hatred, repulsion, antipathy, repugnance |
Benevolent, charitable, kind, philanthropic, good-natured, generous | Bright, brilliant, jubilant, lustrous, lucid, splendid, glaring, gay, intelligent |
Conspicuous, prominent, salient, striking, notable, noticeable, remarkable, outstanding | Dangerous, risky, perilous, hazardous, precarious, delicate |
Deteriorate, degenerate, decline | Emancipate, free, liberate, deliver, inspire |
Eradicate, eliminate, exterminate, Destroy, uproot | Extravagant, profuse, lavish, prodigal, spend-thrift, Wasteful, profligate, excessive |
Felicity, happiness, bliss | Ferocious, fierce, savage, barbarous |
Formidable, fearful, dreadful, dangerous, difficult, impassable | Fortitude, endurance, resolution, courage |
Frailty, weakness, failing, foible | Gratification, enjoyment, satisfaction |
Humility, modesty, politeness | Imminent, threatening, impending |
Impertinent, authoritative, dictatorial | Impetuous, violent, ardent, vehement, ferocious, frantic, furious |
Imposter, humbug, swindler, quack | Invasion, attack, intrusion, incursion, visitation, encroachment |
Laborious, assiduous, industrious | Latent, dormant, hidden |
Laudable, praiseworthy, commendatory, complimentary, panegyric, eulogistic | Lethargy, laziness, sluggishness, indolence, sloth |
Malevolent, malign, malignant, virulent, hateful, evil, malicious | Mitigate, appease, alleviate, soften, soothe, allay, relieve |
Monotonous, boring, dull, flat, wearisome, dreary | Obliterate, destroy, efface |
Obsequious, servile, slavish | Pacify, appease, propitiate, soothe, mollify |
Idioms and Phrases


Read the sentences and check out the meaning of the idioms and phrases.
- Kavitha bought a cat
Ravi brought a dog.
They began to lead a cat and dog life.
Always quarelling with each other - He lies on the bed
He made it himself
He lies in the bed he has made. - The birds made a nest.
They made it with feathers
He is suspected of feathering his own nest. - Mr.Right and Mr.Left burnt a candle
Mr.Right on one end and Mr.left on the other.
I am afraid they are burning the candle at both ends. - Look at his hands
They are full.
His hands are full. - I have only two hands
But many things to do.
I have many projects on my hand. - Here is the ink pad
Put you thumb on it.
He is under the thumb of his wife. - Why did you close the door?
To keep the wolf away
Many educated young men find it difficult to keep the wolf away from the door.( Keep away starvation) - He said he was going out on business
It was a night, pitch dark, and the streets deserted
He leapt in the dark (Without knowing the result midnight) to save the robber in the dead of night (Midnight).
Read the sentences and check out the meaning of the idioms and phrases.
- He took up the case.
He argued it.
He did not consider the pros and cons of the case. - She served the sick
Working through thick and thin.
And wears the blue ribbon of service in the TB organization. - The boy was generous.
He gave away all he had.
The boy has almost run through his fortune. - I saw a stranger
He ran into a house.
The man was caught after a hot chase and run in. - He has a spoon in his mouth.
It is of silver.
The young fellow was born with a silver spoon in his mouth. - He lit the lamp.
It’s light dispelled darkness.
He made light of his father’s warning. - That man changes his clothes every day.
He changes his religion too.
The poor embrace any religion in a jiffy. - The pied piper led the rats.
But when refused to be paid his due, he led the children too.
He refused to be led by the nose. - She is a maiden.
She gave a speech.
As a maiden speech the attempt was good. - The speech was short.
It drew everybody’s attention to the seriousness of the matter.
The laconic speech made everyone tongue-tied.
Read the sentences and check out the meaning of the idioms and phrases.
We locked the door and went out.
We found the door open.
The burglars broke into the house.
The manager was cross.
The employee was dismissed.
He was a black sheep in the company.
Who do you think would be the next CM?
There are no efficient ministers.
This is the burning question of the day.
The carpenter did not use a ruler.
He used his fingers for measurement.
The country carpenters always do things by the rule of thumb.
Any rough process of measurement
Two ladies appeared to be close friends.
One was cunning and the other a simpleton.
The cunning friend tried to gain promotion by making a cat’s paw of the simpleton.
To use another to accomplish one’s ends.
The boy behaved like a clown.
Everyone laughed at him.
He made himself a laughing stock by his clownish behavior.
Object of ridicule
Syllables


Let’s learn to make di-syllabic, tri-syllabic and polysyllabic words.
1. A right understanding of the syllabification helps in understanding the spelling and pronunciation of the word. Make new words adding ‘er’ or ‘or’ at the end of the word and make new words. Sometimes the spelling has to be checked:-
Act, achieve, tract, teach, law, paint, sculpt, sing, play, dance, direct, lead, farm, train, teach, law, pot, bake, write, preach, garden, paint, read, shoot, hunt, rend, vote, create, direct, produce, collect, announce, prison, observe, follow, inform, build, attend, manage, employ, interview, labour, begin, distribute, rectify, retain, sin, boil, creep, lend, borrow, reform, remind, travel, garden, farm, print.
2. Make new words adding ‘ion’ at the end of the word and make new words. Sometimes the spelling has to be checked:-
Attract, content, confuse, direct, distinct, devote, perfect, posses, perfect, migrate, correct, select, reject, instruct, construct, , defect, devote, diffuse, direct, except, exert, infect, prevent, prohibit, locate, migrate, progress, protect, rebel, select, suggest, submit,
3. Make new words adding ‘ty’ or ‘ity’ at the end of the word and make new words. Sometimes the spelling has to be checked:-
Active, certain, crude, cruel, human, moral, complex, public, fertile, regular, scarce, special, frail, legal, loyal, punctual, rapid, real, vital, vulgar,
4. Make new words adding ‘ance’ or ‘ence’ at the end of the word and make new words. Sometimes the spelling has to be checked:-
Interfere, infer, observe, accept, adhere, annoy, allow, appear, emerge, defer, disturb , depend, prefer, persist, refer,
5. Make new words adding ‘ment’ and make new words. Sometimes the spelling has to be checked:-
Achieve, agree, align, amaze, amend, amuse, announce, attain, commit, confine, derail, embarrass, employ, harass, induce, indict, impede, punish, treat, state,
6. Make new words adding ‘ful’ at the end of the word and make new words. Sometimes the spelling has to be checked:-
Art, beauty, care, cheer, faith, harm, duty, force, joy, , pain, peace, play, power, truth, fright, sin, hand, mouth, thought, watch,
7. Make new words adding ‘al’ or ‘ual’ at the end of the word and make new words. Sometimes the spelling has to be checked:-
Act, critic, culture, fact, historic, practice, function, economic, education, monument, parent, universe, withdraw,
Rhyming Words


Vocabulary is the heart of a language. It is learnt through different methods. The first method is that of listening and repeating. Oral drilling is the simplest, easiest and best method, which enables the learner to understand the pronunciation. The most basic aspect of learning a language is to know and articulate words. Then comes spelling and usage.
A play way method of building, testing and absorbing vocabulary is the use of rhyming words. Oral drilling and practice, followed by learning the spelling and meaning is essential. It can be done with all the students in the class as a whole. The class can also be divided into groups. You can use the black board. If in the classroom, without a computer, keep a dictionary handy.
The key word is given. Students or each group will make as many words as possible. A time limit can also be set. Observe the difference in spelling and learn the right meaning of the word. Key Word and rhyming words
- Air: bare, bear, care, dare fair, fare, hair, hare, mare, pair, pear, pare, rare, stare, tear, wear, ware, where, were
- Boar: Bore, core, door, fore, four, lore, more, oar, ore, pour, pore, roar, soar, sore, tore, wore
- Cot: ought, bought, brought, caught, drought, drought, fought, got, hot, lot, not, knot, naught, pot, rot, sort, sought, taught, taut, wart, wrought
- Dame: aim, came, claim, fame, game, lame, maim, name, same, shame, tame
- Ear: beer, clear, deer, dear, fear, gear, hear, here, jeer, leer, mere, near, peer, queer, rear, seer, steer, sear, tear, veer
- Fort: court, coat, dote, goat, jolt, moat, note, port, quote, rote, vote, wrote
- Gold: bold, cold, fold, hold, old, sold, told,
- Hill: bill, fill, gill, hill, kill, mill, nil, pill, sill, till, will
- Ink: brink, blink, drink, link, pink, sink, stink, think, wink
- Jeep: creep, beep, deep, heap, keep, leap, peep, reap, seep, weep
- Kite: bite, cite, fight, height, kite, light, might, night, right, site, sight, tight, write
- Lyre: ire, fire, hire, mire, pyre, pier, sire, tyre, tier, tire, wire
- May: bay, bray clay, day, gay, hay, lay, neigh, pay, ray, say, weigh
- Nest: best, fest, jest, lest, pest, quest, rest, test, vest, west
- Oar: bore, boar, core, door, fore, four, lore, more, ore, pour, pore, roar, soar, sore, tore, wore
- Peach: beach, each, leech, preach, reach, teach
- Queen: bean, been, dean, feign, lean, mean, seen, sheen, teen, wean
- Rye: By, cry, dry, fry, fly, high, I, lie, my, nigh, pie, sigh, tie, try, vie, why
- Sun: Bun, done, fun, gun, pun, run, son, ton, won
- Tie: die, dye, fry, fie, high, I, lie, my, nigh, pie, rye, sigh, vie
- Use: fuse, lose, loose, muse, ruse,
- Veil: ale, ail, bail, bale, dale, fail, frail, gale, hail, jail, male, mail, pail, pale, quail, rail, sale, tail, tale, wail, whale
- Weight: eight, sleight, gait,
- Xmas: extra
- Yak: back, hack, knack, lack, pack, rack, sack, whack
- Zoom: boom, broom, doom, fume, groom, loom, room,
Activity:
- Find the difference in meaning and spelling. Sometimes the spelling may be the same, but the meaning changes according to the usage. Identify the words. Make a list:-
Ex. Bear /bare fair /fare hare /hair pair / pear wear / ware - Learn to use the words in sentences of your own:-
Ex. This is a bear. (animal) I cannot bear this noise. ( tolerate, put up with ) - Ask questions and elicit answers to make the learner familiar with the meaning and usage of words:-
Ex. Where are the bears? Have you seen bears? They are in the zoo.