English Vocabulary For competitive exam practice, my own created
22.01.2015
DAWN 
1. Sacrosanct
Meaning: regarded as too important or valuable to be interfered with/thought to be too important or too special to be changed 
Example: I'm willing to help on any weekday, but I'm afraid my weekends are sacrosanct. 
Synonyms: Sacred, holy, safe, secure, inviolable, inviolate etc.
2. Astute
Meaning: clever and quick to see how to take advantage of a situation/having or showing an ability to accurately assess situations or people and turn this to one's advantage.
Example: Our teacher is an astute observer of human behavior.
Synonyms: sharp/clever/quick/intelligent/acute/quick witted/sagacious/wise/judicious etc.
3. Citadel
Meaning: a strong castle in or near a city, where people can shelter from danger, especially during a war/a fortress, typically one on high ground above a city.
Example: The town has a 14th century citadel overlooking the river. 
Synonyms:castle/stronghold/fortress/fort/burg/fortification etc.
4. Quaint ( attractively unusual or old fashioned ) 
Example: He made a quaint plea against terror. 
Synonyms: picturesque/charming/attractive/sweet/old-world/twee etc.
5. Dazzle ( brightness that may cause temporary blindness )
Example: I screwed my eyes up against the dazzle.
Synonyms: Glare/flare/blaze/brilliance/gleam/shine/shimmer/radiance etc.
6. Edict ( an official order or proclamation issued by a person in authority )
Example: They issued an edict against suicide bombing. 
Synonyms: decree/order/command/mandate/proclamation/dictum/fiat etc.
7. Miscreant ( a person who has done something wrong or unlawful )
Example: The police ran after the miscreants. 
Synonyms: criminal/culprit/scoundrel/black hat/convict/delinquent etc.
8. Precocious ( having abilities at an earlier age than expected )
Example: Precocious Arfa Kareem died in the age of just 17.
Synonyms: Talented/advanced/gifted/clever/quick/intelligent/smart etc.
(Note: All these words have been picked up from today DAWN, I flecked through the whole of DAWN and learnt more than forty fresh words)
07.02.2015
Vocabulary from Today's DAWN
1. Hailed ( to describe something as very good or special, especially in newspapers)
Note: Hailed as a landmark achievement ........... parties. This line is the very 1st line of article "Devolution at a dead end" by Nargis Sethi. Here "hailed" means "being described/told as the landmark ( great/major) achievement. SO when it's used in this sense and is often used in passive, it would mean described.
Ex. The conference was hailed as a great success.
2. Concurrent ( existing or happening at the same time)
Synonyms: simultaneous/coincident/side by side/parallel/coexisting etc.
3. Ensue ( happen as a result or after an event )
Synonyms: result/follow/evolve/arise/spring/emerge/issue/flow etc.
4. Trivial (of little or less importance )
Synonyms: trifling/unnecessary/not worth bothering about/not worth mentioning/nugatory/petty/little/slight/negligible/insubstantial etc.
5. Lucrative: ( producing a great amount of money, making a large profit)
synonyms: profitable/well-paid/cost effective/bankable/booming/fruitful etc.
6. Myopic/insular ( both the words have same meaning and have been used in today article, means lacking foresight or intellectual insight.)
synonyms: insular/narrow-minded/parochial/provincial/uncreative etc.
7. Clout ( power or influence i.e.political/fiscal clout )
synonyms: power/influence/sway/leverage/control/domination/prestige etc.
8. Tacit ( lacking foresight or intellectual insight/understood or implied without being stated)
synonyms: implicit/understood/implied/unspoken/unstated/silent etc.
9. Rumbling ( a long deep sound or a series of sounds )
synonyms: rumor/grumble/sound/roar/roll etc.
10. Proactive ( controlling a situation by making things happen rather than waiting for things to happen and reacting to them, used for a person or policy )
synonyms: aggressive/eager/ardent/dedicated/enthusiastic/passionate/spirited/fired up/take charge/keyed up/energetic etc.
( Note: These words have been taken just from one column, if you folks start and get hooked on to skim through all the pages and articles believe me you be would be very rich in vocabulary. Not blowing my own trumpet, want to tell that I remember more than 40 words per day and keep up their synonyms for a back up and to avoid repetition of the same word. Be honest with yourself and take this honest piece of advice of DAWN to override the vocabulary and written expression hiccups. )
10.02.2015
Today's DAWN vocabulary and other expressions
1. Fight tooth and claw/nail ( Fight very hard to achieve something )
Example: We fought tooth and claw/nail to retain our share in business.
2. Naive ( a person or action showing lack of experience, wisdom and judgement )
synonyms: ingenious/credulous/artless/unpretentious/immature/childlike
3. Atrocity ( a cruel and violent act, especially in a war )
synonyms: obscenity/inequity/massacre/carnage/outrage/act of savagery.
4. Plethora ( a large or excessive amount of something )
synonyms: profusion/plenty/deluge/glut/surplus/overflow/surfeit etc.
5. Mirage ( a hope or wish that you can't make happen because it's not realistic )
synonyms: fantasy/illusion/trick/delusion/chimera/apparition etc.
6. Dystopia ( an imaginary place or state where everything is bad or unpleasant )
7. Chaos ( complete disorder and confusion )
synonyms: havoc/turmoil/disorder/upheaval/hue and cry/commotion etc.
8. Servile ( wanting too much to please and obey someone )
synonyms: obsequious/subservient/fawning/slavish/craven/self-abasing
9. Gravitas ( the quality of being serious, great and solemn )
synonyms: dignity/solemness/decorum/gravity/sobriety etc.
10. Entice ( to persuade somebody to go somewhere to do something, especially by offering them something ) 
synonyms: tempt/attract/lure/allure/inveigle/coax/seduce/beguile etc.
11.02.2015
Today's DAWN vocabulary
1. Nexus ( a complicated series of connections between different things )
synonyms: connection/core/union/link/tie/contre/network etc.
2. Inferno ( a large fire that's dangerously out of control )
synonyms: hellfire/purgatory/blazes/Hades/netherworld etc.
3. Extortion ( the practice of obtaining something, especially money, through forces or threats )
synonyms: blackmail/exaction/shakedown/extraction etc.
4. Veracity ( the quality of being true, the habit of telling truth ) 
synonyms: truth/accuracy/fidelity/honesty/realism/precision etc.
5. Glean ( obtain information through different sources, often with difficulty )
synonyms: obtain/get/draw/derive/extract/gather/pick etc.
6. Duress ( threat or force that is used to make somebody do something )
synonyms: force/pressure/compulsion/exaction/extraction/intimidation etc.
7. Blatant ( done in an obvious and open way without caring if people are shocked, especially of actions that are considered bad )
synonyms: obvious/flagrant/undisguised/open/patent/overt/impudent etc.
8. Dire ( extremely serious or urgent )
synonyms: terrible/appalling/atrocious/awful/outrageous/calamitous etc.
9. Malicious ( intended or intending to do harm )
synonyms: hostile/venomous/malevolent/rancorous/bitter etc.
10. Tirade ( a long, angry speech of criticism or accusation )
synonyms: attack/criticism/diatribe/rant/censure/harangue etc.
11. Berate ( scold or criticize )
synonyms: rebuke/reprimand/admonish/reprove/castigate/chastise etc.
12. Onus ( something that's one's duty or responsibility )
synonyms: burden/responsibility/liability/obligation/duty/charge etc.
13. Despicable ( deserving hatred or contempt )
synonyms: disgusting/abhorrent/repellent/repugnant/obnoxious etc.
14. Vie ( compete strongly with somebody to obtain or achieve something )
synonyms: compete/contest/struggle/contend/battle/grapple/jostle etc.
15. Hush up ( to hide information about some situation because you don't want people to know it )
Example: The whole matter was hushed up by the panel.
12.02.2015
Today's DAWN vocabulary
1. Flak ( strong criticism )
synonyms: criticism/disapproval/hostility/obloquy/vilification etc.
Note: To take flake means to bear or get or face the criticism.
Example: You must be strong enough to take the flak for wrong things.
Example: Ogra chief, PSO board take flak of petrol crisis.
SO whenever you use flak, it would be used with "take".
2. Begging bowl ( a bowl used by a beggar for food or donations. It's used in reference to an earnest appeal for financial help.)
3. Climb down ( a withdrawal from a position taken up in argument or negotiation ) 
synonyms: surrender/back down/capitulate/retreat/give up etc.
4. Parochial ( having a limited or narrow outlook or scope )
synonyms: insular/narrow minded/myopic/petty/short sighted etc.
5. Get-go ( the very beginning ) 
synonyms: baseline/birth/kickoff/launch/onset/start/threshold etc.
6. Angst ( a feeling of deep anxiety or dread )
synonyms: anxiety/apprehension/perturbation/malaise/worry etc.
7. Hue and cry ( strong public protest against something )
synonyms: commotion/outcry/fuss/uproar/clamor/ado etc.
8. Disingenuous ( not serious, especially when you pretend to know less about something than you really do )
synonyms: dishonest/duplicitous/two-faced/mendacious/cunning etc.
9. Ad hoc ( created or done for a particular purpose as necessary )
synonyms: impromptu/extempore/improvised/expedient/emergency etc.
10. Ruckus ( a situation in which there is lot of noisy activity, confusion and argument )
synonyms: row/brawl/commotion/upheaval/fracas/riot/fisticuffs etc.
13.02.2015
Today's DAWN vocabulary
1. Flummox ( to confuse somebody so that they don't know what to say or do )
synonyms: perplex/baffle/bewilder/mystify/confound/puzzle/gravel etc.
Ex. I was flummoxed by her question.
2. Pep ( energy and enthusiasm )
synonyms: life/go/energy/spirit/dynamism/fizz/ebullience/exuberance/vigor
Ex. Our principal delivered a pep talk.
3. Knack ( a special skill or ability that you naturally have or can learn )
synonyms:talent/instinct/ability/adroitness/proficiency/dexterity etc.
Ex. He has got a real knack for/of learning vocabulary.
4. Reprimand ( to tell somebody officially that you don't approve of them or their actions )
synonyms: rebuke/scold/admonish/reprove/castigate/berate etc.
Ex. The officers were reprimanded for their unprofessional behavior.
5. Conspicuous ( clearly visible, likely to attract attention )
synonyms: clear/visible/blatant/patent/evident/perceptible etc.
Ex. The event was a conspicuous success.
14.02.2015
Today DAWN vocabulary
1. Fray ( a fight, competition or an argument, especially that's exciting or seen a real test of your ability )
Ex. Pakistan and India in a fray for tomorrow match. 
synonyms: battle/clash/contest/competition/fracas/struggle etc.
2. Scuttle ( deliberately cause something to fail )
Ex. Shareholders ready to scuttle the deal.
synonyms: abandon/submerge/wreck/destroy/scrap etc.
3. Whistle blowing ( an act of reporting insider knowledge of illegal activities of an organization, such a person is called whistle blower )
Ex. Army man claims he was framed for whistle blowing. 
synonyms: criminate/arraign/impeach/inculpate/indict etc.
4. Assail ( criticize strongly )
Ex. Siraj assails PPP for making MQM a part of govt.
synonyms: criticize/berate/scold/castigate/chastise/slam/excoriate etc.
5. Candid ( saying what you think openly and honestly; not hiding your thoughts )
Ex. The new leadership in Afghanistan engaged in candid dialogue. 
synonyms: frank/blunt/sincere/honest/bluff/upfront/straightforward etc.
6. Propitious ( likely to produce successful results )
Ex. It wasn't a propitious time to start meeting. 
synonyms: auspicious/favorable/well timed/optimistic/opportune etc.
7. Conduit ( a source used for passing things, information to other places )
Ex. Afghanistan is a main conduit for imports via Karachi port.
synonyms: channel/duct/source/pipe/course/aqueduct/lead in etc.
8. Disseminate ( spread, especially information widely )
Ex. The findings of Baldia Town inferno case has been widely disseminated. 
synonyms: spread/disperse/circulate/promulgate/propagate/herald etc.
9. Bulge ( a sudden temporary increase in amount of something )
Ex. After the war there was a bulge in the birth rate.
synonyms: increase/surge/rise/boost/escalation/leap etc.
10. Mitigate ( make something less severe, serious or painful )
Ex. Drainage schemes have helped to mitigate problems.
synonyms: alleviate/reduce/diminish/lessen/abate/dull/extenuate etc.
15.02.2015
Today's DAWN vocabulary
1. Impasse ( a situation where no progress can be made due to disagreement )
Ex. Negotiations have reached an impasse.
synonyms: deadlock/halt/dead end/stoppage/stand off/checkmate etc.
2. Belligerent ( unfriendly and aggressive )
Ex. He is always very belligerent towards me.
synonyms: hostile/pugnacious/antagonistic/captious/aggressive etc.
3. Call off ( to cancel something, to decide something will not happen )
Ex. They have called off their engagement.
4. Petulant ( of a person or their manners, bad tempered )
Ex. Her tone of voice became abrupt and petulant. 
synonyms: bad-tempered/cranky/fractious/irritable/sullen etc.
5. Diehard ( strongly opposing change and new ideas, especially persons )
Ex. A few diehards are trying to stop the reforms. 
synonyms: conservative/deep-dyed/staunch/steadfast/adamant etc.
16.02.2015.
Today's DAWN vocabulary
1. Brawl ( a noisy and violent fight involving a group of people, especially in a public place )
Ex. Many people were injured in a mass brawl outside the nightclub.
synonyms: fight/scuffle/fray/commotion/uproar/fracas etc.
2. Globetrotting ( travel in many countries all over the world )
Ex. He is a globetrotting journalist.
3. Motorcade ( a procession of motor vehicles, typically carrying and escorting a prominent person )
Ex. President's motorcade has just gone by.
4. Blow oneself up ( to kill or destroy oneself by an explosion )
Ex. The hostage blew himself up with a bomb.
Note: The idiom is used for terrorists and such other people who kill themselves using bombs or such jackets. Whenever they reach the target or get suspected, they blow themselves up in order not to be arrested for interrogation.
5. Chunk ( informal, a fairly large amount of something )
Ex. Major chunk of foreign funds was spent on the luxuries of ministers.
synonyms: sum/lump/portion/piece/amount etc.
6. Succor ( assistant and support in hard times and distress )
Ex. The new ASPs were advised to provide the downtrodden with succor and relief.
synonyms: aid/help/assistance/backing/relief/ministration etc.
7. Fatuous ( stupid, silly and pointless )
Ex. He tells her to let that fatuous discussion go.
synonyms: silly/stupid/infantile/puerile/ludicrous/absurd etc.
8. Nuance ( a slight difference in meaning, sound somebody's feelings )
Ex. He was familiar with the nuances of local dialect.
9. Obsolete ( no longer used or valid, out of date )
Ex. Many traditional skills have become obsolete at this time and age.
synonyms: null and void/outdated/ancient/bygone/archaic etc.
10. Status que ( it's a foreign expression of any other language in English, but it's widely used by the English. It means " the situation as it's now or it was before a recent change )
Ex. By continuing with fictitious status que and devising policies without new census wouldn't be a wise decision at all.
synonyms: state of affairs/status/existing condition/present state of affairs.