About this list

This is a working vocabulary reference for CSS/PMS English (Precis & Composition, Essay, and comprehension). It covers 1000 words that show up often in past papers, editorials, and formal English writing — organised alphabetically into 20 sets of 50 so they're easy to revise a set a day.

Each entry gives:

How to use this page

  1. Do one set (50 words) per day.
  2. Cover the Meaning/Synonym/Antonym columns and test yourself from the Word column.
  3. Try to use 5 new words a week in your own precis or essay writing.
  4. Revisit each set after 7 days to lock it into long-term memory.

Sets index

Set Range Status
1 A (Ab–Al) ✅
2 A (Am–Az) ✅
3 B ✅
4 C (Ca–Co) ✅
5 C (Co–Cz) & D (Da–De) ✅
6 D (De–Dz) ✅
7 E ✅
8 F & G ✅
9 H & I (Ia–In) ✅
10 I (In–Iz), J & K ✅
11 L & M (Ma–Me) ✅
12 M (Me–Mz) & N ✅
13 O & P (Pa–Pe) ✅
14 P (Pe–Pl) ✅
15 P (Pl–Pz) & Q ✅
16 R ✅
17 S (Sa–Sp) ✅
18 S (Sp–Sz) & T (Ta–Te) ✅
19 T (Te–Tz), U & V (Va–Ve) ✅
20 V (Ve–Vz), W, X, Y, Z ✅

(Sets are being filled in below — check back as this page is completed.)

Set 1: A (Ab–Al)

Word Meaning (simple) Synonyms Antonyms Example
Abate To become less strong or severe subside, diminish, wane intensify, escalate The storm began to abate by evening.
Abdicate To formally give up a position of power renounce, relinquish, resign assume, retain The king chose to abdicate the throne.
Aberrant Different from what is normal or expected abnormal, deviant, atypical normal, typical His aberrant behavior worried his colleagues.
Abhor To hate something very strongly detest, loathe, despise adore, love She abhors any form of cruelty to animals.
Abject Extremely bad, often in a humiliating way wretched, miserable, deplorable admirable, dignified The refugees lived in abject poverty.
Abnegate To give up or deny oneself something desired renounce, forgo, relinquish indulge, embrace He chose to abnegate his ambitions for the family business.
Abolish To formally end a law or system eliminate, eradicate, repeal establish, institute The government voted to abolish the outdated tax.
Abominable Extremely unpleasant or morally wrong horrible, detestable, vile pleasant, admirable The crime was described as an abominable act.
Abrasive Harsh or rude in manner harsh, caustic, blunt gentle, soothing His abrasive tone offended several coworkers.
Abridge To shorten a text while keeping its main content condense, truncate, curtail expand, extend The editor decided to abridge the lengthy novel.
Abrogate To officially cancel a law or agreement repeal, annul, rescind enact, ratify The new law will abrogate the previous treaty.
Abscond To leave secretly, often to avoid punishment flee, bolt, decamp remain, stay The accountant absconded with the company's funds.
Absolve To free someone from blame or guilt exonerate, acquit, pardon convict, blame The court absolved him of all charges.
Abstain To deliberately not do something refrain, forgo, desist indulge, partake He chose to abstain from voting on the bill.
Abstemious Moderate in eating and drinking temperate, sparing, restrained gluttonous, self-indulgent Her abstemious lifestyle kept her remarkably healthy.
Abstruse Difficult to understand obscure, esoteric, complex clear, simple The professor's abstruse lecture confused most students.
Abundant Existing in large quantities plentiful, copious, ample scarce, sparse The region has abundant natural resources.
Accede To agree to a demand or request consent, comply, assent refuse, reject The manager finally acceded to the workers' demands.
Accentuate To make something more noticeable emphasize, highlight, underscore downplay, minimize The dress accentuates her slim figure.
Acclaim Enthusiastic public praise or approval praise, applaud, extol criticize, condemn The film received widespread critical acclaim.
Accolade An award or expression of praise honor, tribute, commendation criticism, reprimand She received an accolade for her outstanding research.
Accost To approach and confront someone boldly confront, approach, waylay avoid, ignore A stranger accosted him on the street asking for money.
Accrue To accumulate gradually over time amass, gather, mount up diminish, dwindle Interest will accrue on the unpaid balance.
Acerbic Sharply critical or sarcastic caustic, biting, cutting gentle, kind The critic is known for his acerbic reviews.
Acquiesce To accept something reluctantly without protest comply, submit, yield resist, object She acquiesced to her parents' wishes despite her doubts.
Acrimony Bitterness or anger in speech or manner bitterness, rancor, hostility harmony, goodwill The divorce proceedings were marked by acrimony.
Acumen The ability to make quick, good judgments sharpness, shrewdness, insight incompetence, ineptitude Her business acumen helped the company thrive.
Adamant Refusing firmly to change one's mind unyielding, resolute, firm flexible, yielding He remained adamant about not selling the property.
Adept Very skilled at something proficient, skillful, expert inept, incompetent She is adept at solving complex problems.
Adhere To stick firmly to a surface, rule, or belief stick, cling, comply detach, abandon All employees must adhere to company policies.
Admonish To warn or scold someone firmly reprimand, rebuke, caution praise, commend The teacher admonished the students for being late.
Adroit Clever and skillful, especially with the hands skillful, deft, dexterous clumsy, inept The surgeon's adroit hands performed the delicate operation.
Adulate To praise someone excessively flatter, fawn over, idolize criticize, disparage Fans adulate their favorite celebrities online.
Adulterate To make something impure by adding another substance contaminate, taint, dilute purify, refine The vendor was caught trying to adulterate the milk.
Adverse Harmful or unfavorable unfavorable, detrimental, hostile favorable, beneficial The medicine had several adverse side effects.
Advocate To publicly support a cause or policy support, champion, endorse oppose, discourage She advocates for stricter environmental laws.
Aesthetic Relating to beauty or artistic taste artistic, visual, tasteful ugly, unappealing The garden was designed with great aesthetic appeal.
Affable Friendly and easy to talk to amiable, genial, cordial unfriendly, hostile The affable host made everyone feel welcome.
Affluent Having a great deal of wealth wealthy, prosperous, rich poor, impoverished They live in an affluent neighborhood.
Aggrandize To increase someone's power or reputation, often excessively exaggerate, magnify, inflate diminish, belittle The politician used the crisis to aggrandize his own image.
Aggravate To make a problem or situation worse worsen, exacerbate, intensify relieve, alleviate Scratching the rash will only aggravate it.
Agile Able to move quickly and easily nimble, lithe, spry clumsy, sluggish The gymnast's agile movements amazed the crowd.
Alacrity Eager and enthusiastic readiness eagerness, enthusiasm, zeal reluctance, apathy She accepted the invitation with alacrity.
Alienate To make someone become unfriendly or distant estrange, isolate, distance unite, befriend His harsh comments alienated many of his supporters.
Allay To reduce or calm fear or worry calm, soothe, ease worsen, aggravate The doctor's explanation helped allay her fears.
Allege To claim something without proof assert, claim, contend prove, verify The report alleges widespread corruption in the department.
Alleviate To make suffering or a problem less severe relieve, ease, mitigate worsen, aggravate The medicine helped alleviate his pain.
Allocate To distribute resources for a particular purpose assign, distribute, apportion withhold, retain The government allocated funds for education.
Aloof Distant and not friendly or forthcoming distant, detached, reserved friendly, sociable She remained aloof at the party, avoiding small talk.
Altruistic Showing selfless concern for others' wellbeing selfless, philanthropic, generous selfish, egotistic His altruistic actions inspired the whole community.

Set 2: A (Am–Az)