Having good language and communication skills is very important to score easily in exams which can help students go a long way. Hence, along with preparing important topics for competitive exams, do not forget to polish your language skills as well.
Here’s a way to improve your vocabulary and communication skills. Check out the words for the day and a small quiz to push yourself to improve your word power and language skills.
Erroneous (Adjective)
Meaning: wrong; incorrect
Example: The test remains rooted in an erroneous approach which starts from the wrong standpoint
Expurgate (Verb)
Meaning: remove matter thought to be objectionable or unsuitable from (a text or account)
Example: Editors heavily expurgated the novel before its initial publication
Gist (Noun)
Meaning: the substance or general meaning of a speech or text
Example: She spoke quickly but I got the gist of what she was saying
Also Read: Vocabulary Made Easy series: Improve your language skills to excel in exams
Fracas (Noun)
Meaning: a noisy disturbance or quarrel
Example: He got drunk and caused a fracas because they wouldn’t let him in
Impasse (Noun)
Meaning: a situation in which no progress is possible, especially because of disagreement; a deadlock
Example: If the impasse continues, the jockeys could take the matter to court
Hedonistic (Adjective)
Meaning: engaged in the pursuit of pleasure; sensually self-indulgent
Example: Yet they help put the hedonistic excesses of the decade into proper perspective
Also Read: Vocabulary Made Easy series: Work on your language skills to succeed in exams
Inert (Adjective)
Meaning: lacking the ability or strength to move
Example: Normally it is said that gold has no biochemical purpose, because it is chemically inert
Jocular (Adjective)
Meaning: fond of or characterized by joking; humorous or playful
Example: Her comments were intended to be taken in a light-hearted and jocular fashion
Kindle (Verb)
Meaning: set (something) on fire/ arouse or inspire (an emotion or feeling)
Example: I managed to kindle a fire in the grate
Put your thinking cap on and try to answer the following questions to understand how much you have grasped.
- A love of art was ___________ in me. Which of the following words fits best in the sentence? (Kindled, Jocular)
- Since Newton’s day, scientists have discovered that atoms are not ______. Which of the following words fits best in the sentence? (Inert, Hedonistic)
- Can you think of some antonyms for the word Impasse?
- Can you think of some synonyms for the word Fracas?
Also Read: Vocabulary Made Easy series: Work on your language skills to be more confident
Watch out for this space for your weekly update on improving word power.
(Definitions and examples are from Oxford Languages)
