Daily Vocab for Various Competitive Exams

The Olympics has a global (1) allure and the Asian Games (2) basks in its continental spread. Compared to these two, the Commonwealth Games may look like an unflattering (3) vestige of Britain’s colonial past. Yet there is no denying that CWG’s (4) relevance as a (5) stepping stone to greater sporting glory. For India, the relatively limited competition means it remains a frontrunner. This was underlined over the last fortnight at the Gold Coast in Australia, where India won 66 medals and improved on the (6) haul of 64 from the 2014 edition at Glassgow. Importantly, the number of golds rose from 15 to 26. In wrestling, weightlifting, shooting, boxing, badminton and particularly table tennis, India dominated. 

Five-time world boxing champion Mary Kom, two-time Olympic medalist wrestler Sushil Kumar, world champion weightlifter Mirabai Chanu, 2016 world junior javelin champion Neeraj Chopra and teen shooting sensations Manu Bhaker and Anish Bhanwala produced (7) splendid performances to (8) clinch gold. In badminton, the unexpected gold in the mixed team event, the much-anticipated event, the much-anticipated women’s final featuring P.V. Sindhu and Saina Nehwal, and the emergence of some doubles combinations were the high points. From the table tennis arena, India won a medal in all seven events- an (9) unprecedented sweep of team golds and a historic gold in the women’s singles for Manika Batra, highlighting the hard work done also by the coaching and support team. 

However, India’s reputation took a beating when A.V. Rakesh Babu and K.T. Irfan were packed off from the Games for violation of the ‘no needle’ policy after needles were found in their rooms. This (10) aberration must not go unaddressed against the backdrop of success of other Indian athletes. With the next Asian Games scheduled in August-September in Jakarta, Indonesia, India is expected to build on the gains from the Gold Coast. Based on the quality of recent performances, India could improve upon its 2014 tally of 11 gold, 10 silver and 36 bronze medals. Till then, the CWG has held a mirror up to Indian sport and found a refreshing reflection. 

1. ALLURE (noun) : आकर्षण

Meaning: the quality of being powerfully and mysteriously attractive or fascinating.

Synonyms: attraction, lure, draw, pull, appeal, glamour, allurement, enticement, temptation, bewitchment, enchantment, charm, seduction, persuasion, fascination, magnetism.

Antonyms: repulsion, repulsiveness, repugnance, aversion, awfulness, ghastliness, distaste, eyesore. 

2. BASK (verb) : आनंद उठाना

Meaning: revel in and make the most of (something pleasing).

Synonyms: revel, luxuriate, wallow, delight, take pleasure, rejoice, glory, indulge oneself; enjoy, relish, savour. 

Antonyms: suffer, strain, toil, hustle, moil.

3. VESTIGE (noun) : अवशेष

Meaning: a trace or remnant of something that is disappearing or no longer exists.

Synonyms: remnant, remainder, fragment, relic, echo, indication, sign, trace, imprint, impression, legacy, reminder, memento, souvenir, remains, leftovers.

Antonyms: information, lot.

4. RELEVANCE (noun) : प्रासंगिकता

Meaning: the quality or state of being closely connected or appropriate.

Synonyms: applicability, bearing, connection, pertinence, relevancy, appropriateness, aptness, felicitousness, suitability, importance, significance.

Antonyms: inaptness, infelicity, unfitness, unsuitability, insignificance, meaninglessness, pointlessness, extraneousness, inapplicability, irrelevance.

5. STEPPING-STONE (noun)  : उन्नति का मार्ग

Meaning: an action or event that helps one to make progress towards a specified goal.

6. HAUL (noun) : एक यात्रा में तय की जाने वाली दूरी

Meaning: a distance to be covered in a journey.

Synonyms: move, cargo, lift, trail, carry, heave.

Antonyms: bump, lessen, push, outdo.

7. SPLENDID (adjective) : उत्कृष्ट

Meaning: magnificent; very impressive.

Synonyms: sumptuous, grand, impressive, imposing, resplendent, opulent, luxurious, palatial, deluxe, glorious, dazzling, elegant, majestic, regal, plushy, posh, swanky, ritzy.

Antonyms: unprepossessing, mediocre, ordinary, run-of-the-mill, meretricious, shabby, sordid

insignificant, measly, paltry, petty, puny, trifling, unimposing, unimpressive.

8. CLINCH (verb) : पक्का करना, दृढ करना

Meaning: to make final, definite, or beyond dispute.

Synonyms: secure, settle, conclude, close, pull off, bring off, complete, confirm, seal, finalize, wrap up, string, button up.

Antonyms: confuse, muddle, muddy, unsettle, release, push away, unfasten, disprove.

9. UNPRECEDENTED (adjective) : अद्वितीय

Meaning: never done or known before.

Synonyms: unparalleled, unequalled, unmatched, unrivalled, extraordinary, uncommon, striking, exceptional, prodigious, remarkable, atypical, unheard of, unknown, novel. 

Antonyms: conventional, established, traditional, derivative, imitative, familiar, hackneyed, old, time-honored, tired, warmed-over.

10. ABERRATION (noun) : मतिभ्रंश

Meaning: a departure from what is normal, usual, or expected, typically an unwelcome one.

Synonyms: abnormality, anomaly, exception, oddity, oddment, rarity, quirk, vagary

distortion, variation, difference, disparity.

Antonyms: norm, ordinary, usual, regularity, conformity, concord, consistency, accord.