UPSC Vocabulary List Set 3
Set 1 | Set 2 | Set 3 | Set 4 | Set 5
- Hackneyed — overused; clichéd
- Halcyon — peaceful; prosperous
- Hamper — obstruct; hinder
- Haphazard — lacking plan or order
- Harangue — long, aggressive speech
- Harbinger — sign of what is to come
- Hardy — robust; capable of enduring
- Harrowing — acutely distressing
- Haughty — arrogant
- Hedonistic — pleasure-seeking
- Heinous — shockingly evil
- Herald — announce; signal
- Heresy — belief contrary to accepted doctrine
- Hermetic — tightly sealed; isolated
- Hiatus — break or gap
- Hinder — obstruct progress
- Hinterland — remote region
- Historicity — factual accuracy
- Histrionic — overly dramatic
- Hoard — accumulate and hide
- Homogenous — of the same kind
- Homily — moral lecture
- Hostility — unfriendliness
- Hubris — excessive pride
- Hybrid — mixture; combination
- Hyperbole — exaggerated statement
- Hypocrisy — pretending to have morals
- Iconoclast — one who attacks traditions
- Idiosyncrasy — unique trait
- Idle — inactive
- Idyllic — peaceful and picturesque
- Ignoble — dishonorable
- Ignominious — shameful
- Illicit — illegal
- Illimitable — limitless
- Illiterate — unable to read or write
- Illuminate — clarify; light up
- Illusory — deceptive
- Immaculate — perfectly clean
- Immaterial — irrelevant
- Immense — extremely large
- Immutable — unchangeable
- Impartial — unbiased
- Impasse — deadlock
- Impeccable — flawless
- Impede — obstruct
- Impel — drive or force
- Imperative — essential
- Imperious — commanding; domineering
- Impertinent — rude
- Impervious — unaffected by
- Impetuous — impulsive
- Impinge — encroach
- Implacable — cannot be pacified
- Implicit — implied
- Impolitic — unwise
- Imponderable — difficult to estimate
- Importune — beg persistently
- Impregnable — invulnerable
- Impromptu — unplanned
- Improvident — careless about future
- Impugn — challenge truth of
- Inadvertent — unintentional
- Inane — silly
- Inanimate — lifeless
- Inarticulate — unable to express clearly
- Incendiary — inflammatory; explosive
- Incentivize — motivate
- Inception — beginning
- Incessant — uninterrupted
- Incisive — sharp; clear
- Incite — provoke
- Incompatible — unable to coexist
- Incongruous — out of place
- Inconsequential — insignificant
- Incontrovertible — undeniable
- Incorrigible — incapable of reform
- Incredulous — skeptical
- Incremental — gradual
- Incriminate — accuse
- Incumbent — obligatory; officeholder
- Indelible — cannot be erased
- Indemnify — compensate
- Indignant — angry at injustice
- Indolent — lazy
- Indomitable — unconquerable
- Indubitable — unquestionable
- Ineffable — beyond description
- Inept — incompetent
- Inertia — inactivity; resistance to change
- Inevitable — unavoidable
- Inexorable — relentless
- Infallible — incapable of error
- Infamous — well-known for a bad reason
- Infatuated — excessively admiring
- Infelicitous — inappropriate; unlucky
- Infer — conclude based on evidence
- Infernal — extremely unpleasant
- Infinitesimal — extremely small
- Inflame — provoke strong emotion
- Inflate — increase excessively
- Inflection — change in pitch or tone
- Inflexible — rigid; unyielding
- Inflict — impose (pain or damage)
- Influential — powerful; impactful
- Informative — providing useful information
- Infraction — violation of rule or law
- Ingenious — inventive; clever
- Ingenuous — innocent; naive
- Ingrained — deeply rooted
- Ingratiate — gain favor through flattery
- Inhibit — restrain
- Inimical — harmful; hostile
- Iniquitous — unjust; wicked
- Initiate — begin; introduce
- Innate — inborn
- Innocuous — harmless
- Innovate — introduce something new
- Inordinate — excessive
- Inquisitive — curious
- Insatiable — impossible to satisfy
- Inscrutable — mysterious
- Insidious — subtly harmful
- Insightful — perceptive
- Insinuate — imply subtly
- Insipid — dull; lacking flavor
- Insolent — rude
- Insolvent — bankrupt
- Insouciant — carefree
- Instigate — provoke; initiate
- Insular — narrow-minded; isolated
- Insurgent — rebel
- Intangible — not touchable
- Integral — essential
- Intercede — mediate
- Interdict — official prohibition
- Interim — temporary
- Interlocutor — participant in conversation
- Intermittent — occurring at intervals
- Internecine — mutually destructive
- Interplay — mutual influence
- Interpose — intervene
- Interrogate — question thoroughly
- Intimidate — frighten
- Intractable — difficult to manage
- Intrinsic — inherent
- Introspective — inward-looking
- Intuition — instinctive understanding
- Inundate — flood; overwhelm
- Inure — harden; accustom
- Invective — insulting language
- Inveigh — criticize bitterly
- Inveigle — persuade by deception
- Invidious — likely to cause resentment
- Invincible — unbeatable
- Inviolable — sacred; secure from violation
- Invoke — call upon (authority, law)
- Involuntary — done without intention
- Irascible — easily angered
- Irate — furious
- Iridescent — showing shifting colors
- Irksome — annoying
- Irrefutable — undeniable
- Irrelevant — not related
- Irreparable — cannot be repaired
- Irrepressible — impossible to control
- Irresolute — hesitant
- Irreverent — disrespectful
- Irrevocable — cannot be reversed
- Itinerant — traveling from place to place
- Jaded — worn out; tired
- Jargon — specialized language
- Jaunt — short trip
- Jeer — mock; taunt
- Jettison — discard
- Jingoism — extreme patriotism
- Jocular — humorous
- Judicious — wise; sensible
- Juxtapose — place side by side
- Kaleidoscopic — constantly changing
- Keen — eager; sharp
- Kindle — arouse emotion; ignite
- Kinship — familial relationship
- Kudos — praise and honor
- Laborious — requiring hard work
- Lackadaisical — lacking enthusiasm
- Laconic — concise; brief
- Lament — mourn; express sorrow
- Lampoon — ridicule
- Languid — lacking energy
- Languish — weaken; suffer
- Largesse — generosity
- Lassitude — exhaustion
- Latent — hidden; dormant
- Laud — praise
- Lavish — extravagant; abundant
- Legacy — something handed down
- Legible — readable
- Legitimate — lawful; valid
- Lenient — tolerant; forgiving
- Lethargy — sluggishness
- Levity — humor in serious matters
- Levy — impose (tax or fine)
- Lexicon — vocabulary of a language
- Liaison — communication link
- Liberal — open-minded; generous
- Libertarian — advocating minimal government
- Lithe — flexible; graceful
- Litigate — pursue legal action
- Litmus test — decisive indication
- Lofty — noble; elevated
- Loquacious — talkative
- Lucid — clear; easy to understand
- Lucrative — profitable
- Ludicrous — absurd
- Lugubrious — extremely sad; gloomy
- Luminary — notable or inspiring person
- Lurid — shocking; sensational
- Machination — scheming plot
- Magnanimous — generous; forgiving
- Magnitude — size; importance
- Maladroit — clumsy
- Malfeasance — official misconduct
- Malign — slander; speak ill of
- Malleable — easily shaped
- Mandate — authoritative command
- Manifest — obvious; clear
- Manifesto — public declaration of policy
- Manipulate — control unfairly
- Mannerism — habitual gesture
- Mar — damage; spoil
- Maraud — raid; pillage
- Marginalize — push to the edge of society
- Maritime — connected with the sea
- Martinet — strict disciplinarian
- Maverick — independent-minded person
- Meander — wander aimlessly
- Meddlesome — interfering
- Mediocre — average; unimpressive
- Meditative — reflective
- Megalomania — obsession with power
- Melancholy — deep sadness
- Mellifluous — smooth-sounding
- Mendacious — dishonest
- Menial — low-skilled, routine work
- Mercenary — motivated by money
- Mercurial — unpredictable
- Meritocracy — system rewarding talent
- Metamorphosis — transformation
- Metaphorical — symbolic
- Meticulous — extremely careful
- Militate — work against
- Milieu — social environment
- Minimize — reduce to smallest amount
- Minuscule — tiny
- Mire — difficult situation
- Misadventure — unfortunate event
- Misanthrope — person who dislikes people
- Misconstrue — interpret wrongly
- Miscreant — wrongdoer
- Miserly — stingy
- Misgiving — feeling of doubt
- Mitigate — make less severe
- Modicum — small amount
- Modulate — adjust or regulate
- Mollify — calm; appease
- Momentous — significant
- Monetary — related to money
- Monopoly — exclusive control
- Monotonous — repetitive; dull
- Morass — complicated situation
- Morbid — disturbing; related to death
- Mordant — sharply critical
- Moribund — dying; declining
- Morose — gloomy
- Motley — diverse
- Multifarious — of many types
- Mundane — ordinary
- Munificent — extremely generous
- Mutable — changeable
- Myopic — short-sighted
- Mystique — fascinating aura
- Manipulate — control unfairly
- Mannerism — habitual gesture
- Mar — damage; spoil
- Maraud — raid; pillage
- Marginalize — push to the edge of society
- Maritime — connected with the sea
- Martinet — strict disciplinarian
- Maverick — independent-minded person
- Meander — wander aimlessly
- Meddlesome — interfering
- Mediocre — average; unimpressive
- Meditative — reflective
- Megalomania — obsession with power
- Melancholy — deep sadness
- Mellifluous — smooth-sounding
- Mendacious — dishonest
- Menial — low-skilled, routine work
- Mercenary — motivated by money
- Mercurial — unpredictable
- Meritocracy — system rewarding talent
- Metamorphosis — transformation
- Metaphorical — symbolic
- Meticulous — extremely careful
- Militate — work against
- Milieu — social environment
- Minimize — reduce to smallest amount
- Minuscule — tiny
- Mire — difficult situation
- Misadventure — unfortunate event
- Misanthrope — person who dislikes people
- Misconstrue — interpret wrongly
- Miscreant — wrongdoer
- Miserly — stingy
- Misgiving — feeling of doubt
- Mitigate — make less severe
- Modicum — small amount
- Modulate — adjust or regulate
- Mollify — calm; appease
- Momentous — significant
- Monetary — related to money
- Monopoly — exclusive control
- Monotonous — repetitive; dull
- Morass — complicated situation
- Morbid — disturbing; related to death
- Mordant — sharply critical
- Moribund — dying; declining
- Morose — gloomy
- Motley — diverse
- Multifarious — of many types
- Mundane — ordinary
- Munificent — extremely generous
- Mutable — changeable
- Myopic — short-sighted
- Mystique — fascinating aura
Set 1 | Set 2 | Set 3 | Set 4 | Set 5