Vocabulary building for good writing

Writing to win – the words that speak loud

When writing a high quality answer, substance matter as much as style. Style depends upon brevity of expression and articulation of thought. Both of these are facilitated through use of right words in right places. Here is a small list of such words that convey a lot of sense. To master them, read the sentences keeping a dictionary in front.

Mull .. a. President Obama is mulling over suggestions for mounting air strikes against the Islamic State (IS), who have occupied vast swathes of land in Iraq and Syria in a short time.
b. Much before the general elections, the BJP had mulled over the idea of removing a few of the Congress-appointed governors. After coming to power, it carried out the idea.

Mortify … a. Jainism prescribes penance and extreme righteousness as the path to salvation of the soul. The Jain Munis (saints) feel they can go to heaven by mortifying the flesh. (Meaning 1– Subdue (the body or its needs and desires) by self-denial or discipline)
b. The orthodox Muslim gentleman, living in London, was mortified to see his teen-aged daughter emerging from a pub in the company of a few rambunctious young men. (Meaning 2 — Cause (someone) to feel very embarrassed or ashamed)

Maladroit .. a. Defense purchases in India are done through opaque processes because the politicians make money out of it. It leads to delay, cost escalation and difficulty for the armed forces. Such maladroit procedures put off many genuine suppliers.
b. The luxury ship Costa Concordia ran aground causing the loss of a few precious lives, and irreparable damage to the operator’s reputation. Now, the investigation team has concluded that the captain’s maladroit working triggered and later, worsened the crisis.

Lumber .. a. It was a refugee camp in the middle of a desert. At dead of night, the whole area appeared lifeless. An eerie silence had descended on the place. Occasionally, a U.N truck loaded with relief goods lumbered past young Mohammed’s tent where the 13-year-old slept with his widowed mother. (Meaning 1 … Move in a slow, heavy, awkward way)

b.The army trucks lumber along the winding roads of the mountain pass. The army jawans sit there tensed, with their fingers on the trigger. (Same meaning as before)
c. Myanmar earns valuable foreign exchange through its exports of teakwood. Elephants are used to haul the lumbers to convenient spots.

Slouch .. a. If you slouch in your chair during an interview, you are sure to be rejected.
b. The girl liked everything about the boy except his peculiar slouching gait.

Infernal .. a. When the M.P refused to conclude his speech despite being repeatedly asked by the Speaker to do so, the latter called him an infernal nuisance who deserved to be pushed out of the House by the marshals. (Meaning .. Irritating and tiresome (used for emphasis)
b. The army recruits lost their way while on a training practice in a jungle. It was getting dark. So, they went inside a nearby cave to wait out the night. They found the infernal heat of the interior unbearable and came out to the open at the middle of the night. (Same meaning as above)
c. Venezuela’s jungles are famous for the abundance of gold deposits. However, the infernal mosquitoes make the mines notorious for malaria. (Same meaning as above)

Insidious … a. India has been rocked by a spate of brutal rape incidents that have caused intense public anger. Sociologists say that sexual harassment of women in public places has been growing insidiously for the last two or three decades as a result of spread of internet and vulgarization of Bollywood films. (Meaning .. Proceeding in a gradual, subtle way, but with very harmful effects)
b. Diabetes does not kill a person at the onset. It insidiously creeps into the system imperiling the internal organs one after another. (Meaning same as above)

Avuncular.. The coach was very popular among the young players for his avuncular nature. (Meaning .. Kind and friendly towards a younger or less experienced person)

Pernicious.. a. The pernicious campaign against the minority communities won the candidates the votes, but did great damage to communal harmony in the town. (Meaning .. Having a harmful effect, especially in a gradual or subtle way)

Insular .. a. For centuries, India’s Moghul rulers had remained insular and complacent. It enfeebled their empire, and eroded India’s vitality. (Meaning .. Ignorant of, or uninterested in cultures, ideas, or peoples outside one’s own experience)
b. The hermit remained an insular and reclusive person till his last days. (Meaning same as above)
Invigorate .. a. The tonic invigorated the sick old man, and he recovered to resume his wood cutters job. (Meaning .. Give strength or energy to)
b. The inclusion of two new fast bowlers has invigorated the bowling attack of the Indian team. (Meaning same as above)

Mundane.. a. Doing the same household chores day in and day out with no break proved to be very trigger for the lady suffering from mental depression. The doctor advised her husband to give her some respite from her mundane, humdrum existence. (Meaning 1 .. Lacking interest or excitement; dull)
b. Buddhism asks its followers nut to pursue mundane pleasures. (Meaning 2 .. Of this earthly world rather than a heavenly or spiritual one)

Impervious .. a. The United States can’t remain impervious to the rise of the Islamic State (IS). (Meaning 1 .. Unable to be affected by)
b. The addition of the chemical makes the cement plaster impervious to water or even moisture. (Meaning 2 .. Not allowing fluid to pass through)

Egregious .. a. Rahul Gandhi tore off the Cabinet proposal in full public view. The people never forgave him for such egregious act of arrogance. (Meaning .. Outstandingly bad; shocking)
b. China seems to have realized that egregious violation of western copyrights is bringing it much disrepute. (Meaning same as above)
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