July 5, 2003

Command over vocabulary means the use of the most appropriate and correct word, and not necessarily heavy words, for a given situation. Firstly, there are basic words, and then there are synonyms, which are advanced forms of the basic words, developed for particular situations and specific meanings. The more you are aware of synonyms and their correct usage, the more expressive your speech and composition becomes. Examples of basic words are good, bad, right, wrong, more, less, happy, sad, fast, slow, new, old, etc. Let’s analyze the word ‘bad’. Following are its synonyms and the particular situation(s) where the word ‘bad’ can be replaced with more appropriate words.

1. Naughty / mischievous -— child

2. Base - (inferior) — a cast, a thought

3. Awful - (very bad) — work, performance

4. Corrupt — dealings or activities involving bribery or obtaining money through unjust and unlawful means .

5. Cruel - (merciless, unkind) — authority figure, like ‘boss’, ‘king’

6. Mean — (selfish) attitude, person

7. Harsh — tone of voice, words

8. Horrible - dream

9. Dire / grave - (serious, severe) — consequences, outcome

10. Hostile / malicious / Inimical — (unfriendly, opposed, like enemy) attitude

11. Wicked / evil / malevolent — (intending to cause harm)

12. Delinquent / guilty — (wrong, sinful, law-breaker)

13. Malignant — a fatal or very contagious disease.

14. Abhorrent /abominable / Detestable / deplorable - (hateful)

15. Offensive — (insulting, disgusting, aggressive, upsetting)

16. Foul —- (dirty, stinking) filthy place, smelly clothes, stale food

17. Putrid — (rotten) food

18. Sordid / squalid — (mean and filthy in appearance, morally degrading)

19. Obnoxious — (objectionable) activities, mischief

20. Invalid / void ne — (not authentic, lacking credibility) - proof, argument, any prepaid card.

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