20 Most Important English Words You Must Know
It will be helpful in improving your writing skills whether you are writing
a blog for your website, or an essay or a letter in your exams.
Having a minuscule vocabulary makes your work repetitive and boring. Using
different words each time makes the content joyful and interactive. It can
change the reader's perception of the author drastically.
Therefore, we decided to make a list of words that are very essential in daily life. We not only have listed the most important English words along with
it's meaning but also its Pronunciation, Parts of speech, Synonyms, Antonyms,
and Example sentences.
So, here is a list of 20 important English words that we think will be very helpful
in boosting your vocabulary.
- Flaunt
Parts of speech- Verb
Meaning- Display something proudly or obviously, especially in order to
provoke envy or admiration.
Synonyms- Show off, Ostentatious, Flamboyant, Conspicuous, Pretentious,
Display
Antonyms- Hide, Cover, Conceal, Refrain
Example- The newly rich couple is eager to flaunt their prosperity.
Do not flaunt the qualities that you don't possess.
 |
| A peacock flaunting its wings |
- Subjugate
Parts of speech- Verb
Meaning- Conquer or bring under control (a person or a group).
Synonyms- Conquer, Defeat, Dominate, enslave, Subdue, Suppress, Oppress
Antonyms- Lose, Release, Give in, Let go, Surrender, Free, Liberate
Example- The rich landlords have been subjugating the peasants for
centuries.
It was not an act of genocide, but it was the largest and most enduring program devised by man to subjugate a race.
 |
| For long periods of time, people from poor countries were subjugated and used as slaves |
- Nonplused
Parts of speech- Verb
Meaning- Surprised and confused as to how to react.
Synonyms- Confused, Bewildered, Puzzled, Perplexed, Baffled
Antonyms- Expect, Calm, Soothe
Example- They were nonplussed, but their boss had not lost his
nerve.
The rabbit was nonplussed, so the dog caught it easily.
 |
| A man standing nonplussed |
- Eulogize
Pronunciation- eu-lo-gise
Parts of speech- Verb
Meaning- To praise highly.
Synonyms- Applaud, Acclaim, Bless, Commend, Idolize, Flatter, Praise
Antonyms- Blame, Castigate, Criticize, Censure, Condemn, Denounce
Example- A poet eulogizing the bravery of soldiers.
Unless you eulogize whatever they say or do, they become angry
with you.
 |
| Lord Ganesha is widely eulogized among the Hindus |
- Incriminate
Pronunciation- in-crimi-nate
Parts of speech- Verb
Meaning- Make someone appear guilty of a crime or wrongdoing.
Synonyms- Allege, Blame, Charge, Prosecute, Finger, Frame, Hold
accountable
Antonyms- Exonerate, Pardon, Free, Exculpate, Ignore
Example- An incriminating evidence has been found against Mr.
Atkins.
He refused to answer questions in order not to
incriminate himself.
 |
| Incriminating pieces of evidence are used as a way of catching criminals |
- Expedite
Pronunciation- ex-pe-dite
Parts of speech- Verb
Meaning- To make a process or action happen more quickly.
Synonyms- Speed up, Assist, Accelerate, Hurry, Hasten, Quicken, Ease
Antonyms- Delay, Hinder, Retard, Slow, Stop, Halt, Hold, Block,
Cease
Example- The North Koreans have no wish to expedite their
communication with the Americans.
Narendra Modi has promised to expedite economic reforms.
 |
| Many countries use the manufacturing sector to expedite their economic growth |
- Embroil
Pronunciation- em-broil
Parts of speech- Verb
Meaning- Involve deeply in an argument, conflict, or difficult situation.
Synonyms- Involve, Enmesh, Commingle, Entangle, Ensnare
Antonyms- Extricate, Separate, Remove, Exclude, Free, Untangle,
Untwist
Example- He had no desire to get embroiled in lengthy
lawsuits.
The United States was reluctant to get its forces embroiled
in the civil war.
 |
| He got fully embroiled in the fight with his boss |
- Quixotic
Pronunciation- quix-ot-ic
Parts of speech-
Meaning- Something which is extremely idealistic; Unrealistic
and impractical.
Synonyms- Utopian, Idealistic, Unrealistic, Imaginary, Dreamy,
Impracticable, Impossible
Antonyms- Realistic, Practical, Practical, Rational, Clear-eyed,
Clear-sighted
Example- The idea of an obese person participating in a
triathlon is a quixotic notion.
A quixotic plan.
The idea that one can halt climate change is wonderfully
quixotic.
 |
| The notion that humans will live in a place like this seems quite quixotic |
- Sycophant
Pronunciation- sy-co-phant
Parts of speech- Noun
Meaning- A person who praises rich or powerful people usually
in order to gain some advantage from them.
Synonyms- Servile, Flatterer, Bootlicker, Obsequious, Toady,
Yes man, Fawner
Antonyms- Domineering, Overbearing, High-handed, Lordly,
Superior
Example- The Prime Minister is surrounded by
sycophants.
The advisers are sycophants and they will never tell
him to retire.
 |
| He was a real sycophant, he even used to clean his boss's clothes |
- Epicure
Pronunciation- epi-cure
Parts of speech- Noun
Meaning- A person who takes particular pleasure in fine food
and drink; One devoted to sensual pleasure.
Synonyms- Hedonist, Connoisseur, Gourmand, Bon vivant, Foodie, Gourmet,
Gastronome, Sensualist
Antonyms- Glutton, Overeater, Stuffer, Guzzler,
Example- His uncle is an epicure who traveled across
the country so that he can have Indian food.
Since John is an epicure, he refuses to consume any
food that is not prepared by a chef.
 |
| The chef of the hotel was a man of epicurean tendencies |
- Articulate
Pronunciation- ar-tic-u-late
Parts of speech- Adjective
Meaning- Ability to express thoughts and feelings easily and
clearly.
Synonyms- Fluent, Eloquent, Intelligible, Fluent,
Silver-tongued, Well-spoken, Communicative, Coherent, Lucid
Antonyms- Inequal, Inarticulate, Ineloquent, Unvocal,
Hesitant, Unintelligible, Stuttering
Example- Rajesh is an articulate speaker, nobody can
deny that.
She gave a witty, entertaining, and
articulate speech.
 |
| His articulate speech changed the mood of the audience |
- Erudite
Pronunciation- er-u-dite
Parts of speech- Adjective
Meaning- Having or showing knowledge that is gained by
studying.
Synonyms- Educated, Knowledgeable, Scholarly, Learned,
Lettered, Literate
Antonyms- Dark, Illiterate, Ignorant, Benighted,
Uneducated, Unscholarly, Unlettered, Unlearned
Example- He can turn any conversation into an erudite
discussion.
An erudite professor.
An erudite commentary.
He was never dull, always erudite, and well
informed.
 |
| The erudite student graduated at the top of her class |
- Tenuous
Pronunciation- ten-u-ous
Parts of speech- Adjective
Meaning- Easily damaged or proved false.
Synonyms- Weak, Shaky, Feeble, Thin, Slight, Insubstantial,
Fragile, Slim
Antonyms- Convincing, Substantial, Strong, Sturdy,
Tough,
Example- After the end of the crusading period, relations
between East and West had grown tenuous.
The police have found a tenuous connection between
the two robberies.
 |
| Dandelions are very tenuous |
- Tranquility
Pronunciation- tran-quil-ity
Parts of speech- Noun
Meaning- the quality or state of being calm.
Synonyms- Calm, Quiet, Stillness, Serenity, Repose, Silence,
Mildness,
Antonyms- Commotion, Busyness, Uproar, Chaos, Disturbance,
Loudness, Noise
Example- I love the tranquility of the countryside.
Passing cars are the only noise that disturbs the
tranquility of rural life.
 |
| Everyone wants to live at such a tranquil place |
- Tryst
Pronunciation- trist
Parts of speech- Noun / Verb
Meaning- An agreement (as between lovers) to meet; An
appointed meeting or meeting place.
Synonyms- Meeting, Appointment, Assignation, Date,
Engagement, Rendezvous
Antonyms- Non-engagement, Non-participation,
Non-involvement, Division, Separation
Example- Everyone remembers Jawaharlal Nehru's famous
speech "Tryst with Destiny".
Both lovers had to hurry to keep their noontime
tryst in the park.
A moonlight tryst.
 |
| Both the employees were seen indulged in a little afternoon tryst |
- Perfidious
Pronunciation- per-fid-i-ous
Parts of speech- Adjective
Meaning- Unable to be trusted, or showing no loyalty.
Synonyms- Treacherous, Defector, Disloyal, Deceitful, Traitorous,
Faithless, Untrustworthy, Unfaithful
Antonyms- Loyal, Staunch, Reliable, Faithful, Dedicated, Devoted,
Steadfast,
Example- A perfidious lover.
She described the new criminal bill as a perfidious attack on
democracy.
We were betrayed by a perfidious ally.
A perfidious campaign worker revealed the senator's strategy
to his leading rival for the nomination.
 |
| His perfidious colleague stabbed him in the back |
- Precocious
Parts of speech- Adjective
Meaning- (especially of children) Showing mental development or
achievement much easier than usual.
Synonyms- Prodigy, Gifted, Talented, Mature, Advanced, Smart,
Intelligent, Clever
Antonyms- Backward, Slow, Stupid, Unintelligent, Numskull, Doltish
Example- The precocious child began reading the newspaper
at an early age.
Her mother tried to frighten her, but the child was too
precocious.
 |
| A precocious child, he went to the university at the age of 15 |
- Heinous
Pronunciation- hei-nous
Parts of speech- Adjective
Meaning- (of a person or wrongful act, especially a crime) Utterly bad
and shocking.
Synonyms- Odious, Wicked, Evil, Horrendous, Atrocious,
Abominable, Monstrous, Disgraceful, Horrific, Terrible
Antonyms- Admirable, Praiseworthy, Creditable, Delightful, Likeable,
Loveable, Pleasant
Example- There is no dispute over the heinous nature of the
crime.
It was not a heinous sin, nor would it affect his moral
character.
 |
| The court ruled against the convict for the heinous crime |
- Virtuoso
Pronunciation- vir-tu-o-so
Parts of speech- Noun
Meaning- A person who is highly skilled at something, especially in
music or other artistic pursuits.
Synonyms- Maestro, Genious, Expert, Master, Ace, Adept, Guru, Wizard,
Specialist
Antonyms- Beginner, Inexpert, Amateur, Incompetent, Duffer, Dabbler,
Dilettante
Example- Famous mainly for his voice, Cole Porter was also a virtuoso on the piano.
He's a real virtuoso in the kitchen.
 |
| No one could beat a virtuoso musician like him |
- Truncate
Pronunciation- trun-cate
Parts of speech- Verb
Meaning- To make something shorter or quicker, especially by removing
the end of it.
Synonyms- Cut, Trim, Shorten, Abbreviate, Reduce, Decrease, Abridge,
Curtail
Antonyms- Elongate, Lengthen, Extend, Prolong, Protract
Example- The Prime Minister truncated his lengthy speech when he
realized that the audience was getting bored.
Television coverage of the event was truncated by a technical
fault.
 |
| A lemon being truncated |
So these were the 20 most important English words that we think you must know for improving your English vocabulary. These words will prove to be very
helpful for General Competetive exams as well as in improving writing
skills. Hence, try to read, write, and remember as many times as
possible.
So, this is it for today's post. We hope you liked it but if you think we
have missed anything important which should have been mentioned here, feel
free to use the comment section.
Post a Comment