1. waif (noun) – बेघर, लावारिस
Pronunciation: weif
Meaning: a homeless, neglected, or abandoned person, especially a child
Synonyms: ragamuffin, guttersnipe, foundling, orphan, stray
Usage: A waif is begging on the street.
2. ungainly (adjective) – बेढ़ंगापन
Pronunciation: un-gein-li
Meaning: (of a person or movement) awkward; clumsy
Synonyms: awkward, clumsy, ungraceful, graceless, inelegant, gawky, gangling
Antonyms: graceful, elegant
Usage: He has an ungainly appearance.
3. cajole (verb) – ख़ुशामद करना
Pronunciation: kuj-ol
Meaning: persuade (someone) to do something by flattery
Synonyms: persuade, wheedle, coax, manoeuvre
Antonym: bully
Usage: He hoped to cajole her into selling the house.
4. portend (noun) – संकेत, पूर्व-सूचना
Pronunciation: po-tend
Meaning: be a sign or warning that (something, especially something momentous or calamitous) is likely to happen
Synonyms: presage, augur, foreshadow, foretell, prophesy
Usage: Black clouds portend a storm.
5. insular (adjective) – संकुचित विचार का
Pronunciation: in-syu-ler
Meaning: ignorant of or uninterested in cultures, ideas, or peoples outside one’s own experience; lacking contact with other people
Synonyms: narrow-minded, limited, blinkered, restricted, conventional, parochial; isolated, inaccessible, separate
Antonyms: broad-minded, tolerant, accessible, cosmopolitan
Usage: The residents of this city have an insular mindset, so strangers are not always made welcome.
6. wail (noun, verb) – विलाप
Pronunciation: weil
Meaning: a prolonged high-pitched cry of pain, grief, or anger
Synonyms: howl, bawl, yowl, keening, cry, weep
Usage:
- I heard the wail of a baby. (noun)
- The women began to wail in mourning. (verb)
7. gainsay (verb) – प्रतिवाद करना
Pronunciation: gein-sei
Meaning: deny or contradict (a fact or statement); speak against or oppose (someone)
Synonyms: deny, dispute, contradict, repudiate
Antonym: confirm
Usage: No one was able to gainsay Jack’s statement.
8. jocular (adjective) – परिहासशील, ठिठोलिया
Pronunciation: jok-yu-ler
Meaning: fond of or characterized by joking; humorous or playful
Synonyms: humorous, funny, witty, comic, comical, amusing, chucklesome
Antonyms: solemn, serious, earnest
Usage: The song was written in a light-hearted jocular way.
9. lionise (verb) – सराहना करना
Pronunciation: lai-un-aiz
Meaning: give a lot of public attention and approval to (someone); treat as a celebrity
Synonyms: celebrate, fete, glorify, exalt, acclaim, admire, commend
Antonym: vilify
Usage: The City Hall was packed and the press was ready to lionise the winners.
10. agonise (verb) – तड़पना, अत्यधिक चिंतित होना
Pronunciation: ag-un-aiz
Meaning: undergo great mental anguish through worrying about something
Synonyms: worry, fret, fuss
Usage: I didn’t agonize over the problem.
