If you ask a sophisticated passer-by how to improve your vocabulary, you might get different answers; some of them being
1> ‘Read “The HINDU” newspaper everyday (you get this a lot in
2> Refer to a dictionary every time you come across a new word
The former might seem as a good idea. However, I feel the latter does not help much, especially if you are planning to appear for tests like GRE, CAT etc.
I have given the GRE general test. I have scored well too (I will not divulge my score simply because I don’t want to be the creator of another ”Ishaan Awasthi” of “Taare Zameen Par” fame). I had 6 months of time to prepare for this exam. It was during this period that I began to appreciate a book called “THESAURUS”.
The main advantage of using a Thesaurus over Dictionary for GRE preparation is that you will get a list of all the inter-related words at one place. By remembering a single word (I would refer to this word as the “SEED WORD”), you can recall any of its synonyms.
Given below is a demonstration of the power of Thesaurus.
Consider the SEED WORD “abuse”.
If you look up a thesaurus, you will get at least 28 difficult (GRE level of difficulty) words.
Abuse --- imprecate ---denigrate --- execrate --- libel--- castigate --- vituperate ---tirade--- decry--- censure ---reprehend --- upbraid ---revile ---rail---rebuke ---objurgate ---fulminate ---excoriate ---lambaste ---berate---pan --- invective(noun: abusive language) ---scurrilous(adj) ---Belittle --- disparage --- abash --- defame --- calumniate --- obloquy (noun).
All in all, 29 difficult words at one place. So, go and buy a thesaurus right away. Or even better, just type in the SEED WORD in any of the online Thesaurus’.
I have collected a few of such word chains (that’s what I call them).
They can be viewed right at the end of this document.
Finally, I would like to conclude that there are many different ways of building vocabulary. The best way is to read a lot. This requires a lot of time.
If you want to improve your vocabulary quickly, you got to have different sources of new words. For example, a combination of GRE vocabulary training materials ( like the “Barron’s” or “Kaplan”), websites offering GRE trial preparation and books , be it fiction or otherwise. This way, it becomes easy for your brain to remember and recall words originating from different sources.
When it comes to books, I would like to recommend “Harry Potter series”. Believe it or not, I have documented close to 400 difficult words (with context and example sentence usage) in these 7 books. Of course, like any other Harry Potter fan, I have read each of the 7 books more than 7 times. One advantage of this book series is that you can recall words in the context of the story. That way you can remember the words and their meanings throughout your life.
But if you belong to the “Say No To Harry Potter” clan, you will have to make do with other books.
For more word chains, scroll down :
| Seed word | Synonyms |
| Imprecate | Abuse ---denigrate --- execrate --- libel--- castigate --- vituperate ---tirade--- decry--- censure ---reprehend --- upbraid ---revile --- rail---rebuke ---objurgate ---fulminate ---excoriate ---lambaste --- berate---pan --- invective(noun: abusive language) ---scurrilous(adj) --- Belittle --- disparage --- abash --- defame --- calumniate --- obloquy (noun) |
| Cliché | Trite ---hackneyed ---banal ---platitude ---quotidian --- prosaic (prose- like i.e. dull) |
| Nimble | Active ---sprightly ---lissome ---lithe --- supple ---limber --- sentient---ebullient ---sedulous ---diligent ---painstaking ---vivacious --- jaunty---compliant ---pliant |
| Visage | Appearance --- countenance ---mien --- bearing ---carriage ---stance --- pertinence---brook |
| Noxious | Detrimental ---pernicious ---deleterious ---damaging |
| Bilious | Bad-tempered--- dyspeptic --- apoplectic ---morose ---irascible ---crabby ---petulant --- peevish --- gruff --- cantankerous --- shrewish ---sullen --- truculent ---splenetic ---choleric ---snappy ---acerbic ---pugnacious --- contumacious |
| Reticent | Shy --- demure --- diffident --- modest --- coy --- abashed --- meek---self-effacing --- mortified |
| Surmise | Guess ---conjecture ---premise ---assumption |
| Brazen | Arrogant --- Brash ---bumptious --- haughty ---bravado ---cavalier --- supercilious--- swagger --- brassy ---bluster --- peremptory |
| Seed word | Synonyms |
| Temerity | Audacity ---cheek --- presumptuousness ---intrepid ( since trepidation =fear) --- Fool-hardiness--- impertinence --- brazen --- effrontery --- arrant --- Impudence --- overbearing --- overweening |
| Ostracize | Ban --- embargo --- moratorium --- evict ---expatriate --- relegate ---Interdict |
| Callous | Barbarian --- vandal --- savage --- philistine --- lout --- oaf --- bestial ---heathen |
| Prurient | Erotic --- lewd --- lascivious --- bawdy --- earthy --- titillating ---Ribald --- Rude --- scurrilous --- risqué --- licentious |
| Vagrant | Beggar --- mendicant --- suppliant --- supplicant --- beseech (verb) --- Importune(verb) --- indigent --- tramp --- scrounger --- craven --- solicitor --- Penury (noun: penniless situation) --- cadger --- impecunious --- entreat |
| Belligerent | Quarrelsome --- jingoistic --- bellicose ---hawkish --- contentious ---Pugnacious --- warring |
| Frenetic | Crazy --- zany --- frantic --- frenzied --- rampage --- agitated |
| Proclivity | Bias --- propensity --- penchant --- predilection --- bigotry --- partiality --- Non-objective --- jaundice --- nepotism --- partisan ( a biased person) --- Predisposition |
| Flout | Disregard --- defy --- transgress ---infringe |
| Seed word | Synonyms |
| Impromptu | Improvised --- AD LIB --- extemporaneous --- without any prior preparation |
| Succor | Soothing agent--- demulcent--- anodyne --- emollient --- balm --- placebo |
| Embellish | Adorn --- bedizen --- festoon --- caparison |
| Ignominious | Shameful --- ignoble --- sordid |
| Panacea | Cure-all --- placebo --- nostrum --- palliative |
| Lethargy | Laziness ---smugness --- lassitude --- languor --- sloth |
| Deceive | Bilk --- gull ( as in gullible) --- cozen |
| Finagle | Escape using wit --- chicanery --- subterfuge --- clever trick |
| Juvenile | Immature --- puerile --- jejune --- vapid (means dull) --- uninteresting |
| Seed word | Synonyms |
| Succinct | Concise --- pithiness (noun) --- brevity (noun) ---curtness (noun) --- terseness |
| Caricature | Spoof --- parody --- travesty --- satire --- derision --- burlesque |
| Morose | Gloomy --- sullen --- dour --- stygian --- saturnine --- doleful --- cheerless --- somber --- disconsolate |
| Profane | Blasphemous --- sacrilegious--- wanton --- ribald --- agnostic --- apostate |
| Recalcitrant | Ungovernable --- unruly --- willful --- intractable --- headstrong --- Boorish --- rude – -churlish --- outlandish --- surly --- unseemly --- obstreperous--- perverse --- untoward --- refractory --- disobedient |
| Egregious | notorious--- opprobrious |
| Gaudy | Showoff --- ostentatious --- boastful --- meretricious --- éclat --- braggart --- vaunt ---garish --- tawdry --- raffish --- dissemble ( means pretense ) |
| Superfluous | Extravagant --- profligate --- exorbitant --- wastrel --- profuse |
| Emancipate | Pardon --- exonerate --- absolve--- exculpate --- expiate |
| Caprice | Whim --- fancy --- vagary --- quixotic --- conceit |
