The Hindu Vocabulary 26 March 2026

Word/Phrase

Part of speech

Meaning

Synonyms

Antonyms

Sentence

Distress

Noun

Extreme anxiety, sorrow, or pain; a state of physical danger or misfortune.

(संकट)

Anguish, Suffering, Misery, Agony, Torment, Woe, Adversity, Hardship, Trouble, Anxiety

Happiness, Comfort, Relief, Joy, Peace, Contentment, Pleasure, Security, Ease, Prosperity

The sailor sent out a signal to show that the ship was in distress.

Threshold

Noun

The strip of wood or stone forming the bottom of a doorway; the level or point at which something starts to happen.

(दहलीज)

Brink, Verge, Edge, Start, Entrance, Beginning, Dawn, Gateway, Margin, Boundary

End, Finish, Conclusion, Exit, Result, Close, Termination, Completion, Back, Interior

The company is on the threshold of a major technological breakthrough.

Inflection

Noun

A change in the form of a word; a variation in the pitch or tone of the voice.

(स्वर में उतार-चढ़ाव)

Modulation, Tone, Accent, Variation, Pitch, Cadence, Nuance, Curve, Bend, Change

Monotony, Uniformity, Sameness, Flatness, Constancy, Stillness, Regularity, Straightness, Stability, Silence

She spoke with a slight inflection in her voice that suggested she was joking.

Slew

Noun

A large number or quantity of something; (past tense of slay) killed.

(बड़ी संख्या)

Abundance, Multitude, Lot, Myriad, Mass, Wealth, Profusion, Collection, Heap, Series

Bit, Few, Handful, Lack, Scarcity, Dearth, Trickle, Minority, Deficiency, Void

The manager had to deal with a slew of complaints from angry customers.

Perceptible

Adjective

(Especially of a slight movement or change of state) able to be seen or noticed.

(प्रत्यक्ष)

Noticeable, Detectable, Discernible, Visible, Apparent, Tangible, Obvious, Clear, Evident, Palpable

Imperceptible, Invisible, Hidden, Unnoticeable, Obscure, Faint, Indistinct, Subtle, Unclear, Undetectable

There was a perceptible change in the temperature as the sun went down.

Defection

Noun

The desertion of one's country or cause in favor of an opposing one.

(दलबदल)

Desertion, Betrayal, Abandonment, Apostasy, Disloyalty, Departure, Escape, Treachery, Rebellion

Loyalty, Fidelity, Allegiance, Devotion, Commitment, Adherence, Constancy, Support, Stay, Faithfulness

The political party was weakened by the defection of several senior leaders.

Rhetoric

Noun

The art of effective or persuasive speaking or writing.

(भाषण कला)

Oratory, Eloquence, Persuasion, Expression, Articulation, Bombast, Wordplay, Declamation, Fluency

Conciseness, Quiet, Silence, Inarticulateness, Truth, Reality, Fact, Plainness, Simplicity, Honesty

Don't be fooled by the politician's empty rhetoric; look at his actions.

Queer

Adjective

Strange or odd; unusual (Note: also used as an identifier for sexual/gender identity).

(अजीब)

Strange, Odd, Peculiar, Weird, Unusual, Eccentric, Curious, Abnormal, Bizarre, Unconventional

Normal, Ordinary, Common, Standard, Usual, Typical, Regular, Familiar, Natural

She had a queer feeling that she was being watched by someone.

Disenchant

Verb

To free someone from an illusion or a false belief.

(मोहभंग करना)

Disillusion, Undeceive, Embitter, Disappoint, Correct, Discourage, Dissuade, Frustrate, Dissatisfy, Sober

Enchant, Charm, Fascinate, Captivate, Delude, Mesmerize, Entice, Attract, Please, Thrill

Working in the industry for a year served to disenchant him about the glamour of fame.

Gradual

Adjective

Taking place or progressing slowly or by degrees.

(धीरे-धीरे)

Steady, Progressive, Slow, Continuous, Step-by-step, Moderate, Regular, Systematic, Incremental, Measured

Sudden, Abrupt, Rapid, Quick, Immediate, Instant, Violent, Fast, Sharp, Hurried

The recovery of the economy has been gradual but steady.

Coalition

Noun

A temporary alliance for combined action, especially of political parties.

(गठबंधन)

Alliance, Union, Partnership, League, Bloc, Federation, Association, Merger, Combination, Compact

Division, Separation, Disunity, Conflict, Rivalry, Isolation, Detachment, Split, Dissolution

The two parties formed a coalition government after the election results.

Deft

Adjective

Neatly skillful and quick in one's movements or actions.

(चतुर)

Skillful, Adroit, Nimble, Dexterous, Clever, Expert, Handy, Capable, Proficient, Agile

Clumsy, Awkward, Inept, Unskilled, Heavy-handed, Slow, Maladroit, Bungling, Stupid, Careless

The baker used deft movements to shape the dough into perfect loaves.