UPSC Vocabulary List Set 4
Set 1 | Set 2 | Set 3 | Set 4 | Set 5
- Nadir — lowest point
- Naive — innocent
- Nascent — just coming into existence
- Nebulous — unclear; vague
- Nefarious — wicked
- Negate — nullify
- Negligent — careless
- Nemesis — arch-enemy
- Neophyte — beginner
- Nepotism — favoritism based on relations
- Nexus — connection or link
- Nihilism — belief that life is meaningless
- Nimble — quick and light in movement
- Nomadic — wandering; without fixed home
- Nonchalant — casually indifferent
- Nonpareil — unmatched; unrivaled
- Nostalgia — sentimental longing
- Notoriety — state of being famous for something bad
- Novice — beginner
- Nuance — subtle distinction
- Nullify — invalidate
- Nurture — support and encourage growth
- Obeisance — respectful obedience
- Obfuscate — make unclear
- Objective — unbiased; fact-based
- Obliterate — wipe out completely
- Obnoxious — extremely unpleasant
- Obscure — unclear; hidden
- Obsequious — overly obedient; servile
- Obsolete — outdated; no longer used
- Obstinate — stubborn
- Obstruct — block or hinder
- Obtuse — slow to understand
- Obviate — remove necessity; prevent
- Occlude — block; obstruct
- Odious — extremely unpleasant; hateful
- Oeuvre — collective work of an artist or writer
- Officious — intrusively enthusiastic in offering help
- Ominous — threatening
- Omnipotent — all-powerful
- Omnipresent — present everywhere
- Omniscient — all-knowing
- Onerous — burdensome
- Onslaught — fierce attack
- Ontology — study of existence
- Opaque — not transparent; unclear
- Opiate — something that soothes or dulls
- Opportunism — taking advantage of circumstances
- Opprobrium — harsh criticism
- Optimistic — hopeful; positive outlook
- Opulent — luxurious; wealthy
- Oracular — prophetic; mysterious
- Oratory — skill in public speaking
- Orchard — area where fruit trees grow
- Ordeal — difficult experience
- Ordinance — authoritative rule
- Ordnance — military weapons and equipment
- Organic — natural; relating to living matter
- Orthodox — traditional; conservative
- Oscillate — swing back and forth
- Ostensible — stated but not necessarily true
- Ostentatious — showy; pretentious
- Ostracize — exclude from a group
- Oust — remove from position
- Outlandish — bizarre; strange
- Outmaneuver — overcome by strategy
- Outmoded — old-fashioned
- Outrage — strong indignation
- Outstrip — surpass
- Overbearing — domineering
- Overhaul — repair thoroughly
- Overreach — overestimate one’s abilities
- Overstate — exaggerate
- Overt — open; obvious
- Overture — proposal; introduction
- Pacify — calm down
- Painstaking — extremely careful
- Palatable — acceptable; pleasant
- Palatial — magnificent; palace-like
- Palliate — reduce severity
- Pallid — pale; weak
- Palpable — noticeable; tangible
- Paltry — trivial; insignificant
- Panacea — cure-all
- Panache — flamboyant style
- Pandemic — widespread disease
- Panorama — complete view
- Panoramic — wide and comprehensive
- Parable — simple story with moral
- Paradigm — model or pattern
- Paradox — self-contradictory statement
- Paragon — model of perfection
- Paramount — most important
- Pariah — social outcast
- Parity — equality
- Parochial — narrow outlook
- Parody — humorous imitation
- Parsimonious — extremely frugal
- Partisan — biased supporter
- Pastiche — artistic work made of various sources
- Patent — obvious; easily recognizable
- Paternalism — controlling people like a father figure
- Pathological — extreme; related to disease
- Patronize — support; condescend
- Paucity — scarcity
- Peccadillo — minor fault
- Pecuniary — related to money
- Pedagogy — method of teaching
- Pedantic — overly concerned with minor details
- Pedigree — lineage; ancestry
- Peerless — without equal
- Pejorative — insulting
- Penance — punishment for wrongdoing
- Penchant — strong liking
- Pendulous — hanging loosely
- Penitent — remorseful
- Pensive — deeply thoughtful
- Penury — extreme poverty
- Perceive — become aware of
- Perception — understanding; interpretation
- Perceptible — noticeable
- Peremptory — commanding; not allowing refusal
- Perennial — long-lasting; recurring
- Perfidious — treacherous
- Perforate — pierce; make holes
- Perfunctory — done without care
- Perilous — dangerous
- Periodic — occurring at intervals
- Peripatetic — wandering
- Peripheral — marginal; outer
- Perish — die
- Perjury — lying under oath
- Pernicious — harmful
- Perpetrate — commit (crime)
- Persevere — continue despite difficulty
- Persistent — continuing; determined
- Personify — represent or embody
- Perspicacious — insightful; astute
- Persuasion — convincing
- Pertinent — relevant
- Perturb — disturb mentally
- Peruse — read thoroughly
- Pervade — spread throughout
- Perverse — deliberately unreasonable
- Pessimistic — expecting the worst
- Petrify — shock; turn to stone
- Petty — trivial; small-minded
- Philanthropy — generosity to society
- Phlegmatic — calm; unemotional
- Phobia — irrational fear
- Pithy — concise and meaningful
- Placate — calm; pacify
- Placid — calm; peaceful
- Plaintive — mournful; sad
- Plausible — believable
- Plethora — excess
- Plight — difficult situation
- Plunder — steal by force
- Poignant — emotionally touching
- Polarize — divide into opposites
- Polemic — strong verbal attack
- Ponder — think deeply
- Ponderous — heavy; slow
- Portent — sign of something to come
- Posterity — future generations
- Postulate — assume; propose
- Potent — powerful
- Pragmatic — practical; realistic
- Precarious — uncertain; risky
- Precedent — earlier example
- Precept — principle; rule
- Precipitate — cause to happen suddenly
- Preclude — prevent
- Precocious — advanced for age
- Predatory — exploiting others
- Predicament — difficult situation
- Predispose — make susceptible
- Preeminent — outstanding
- Preempt — take action before others
- Preen — groom oneself; admire oneself
- Preface — introduction
- Preferential — giving advantage
- Prehensile — capable of grasping
- Prejudice — preconceived opinion
- Prelude — introduction; preface
- Premeditated — planned in advance
- Premise — foundational statement
- Preposterous — absurd
- Presage — predict
- Prescient — knowing beforehand
- Prescribe — recommend formally
- Prestige — high status
- Presume — assume without proof
- Pretentious — showy; attempting to impress
- Pretext — false reason
- Prevail — triumph
- Prevaricate — avoid telling the truth
- Prey — victim
- Pristine — pure; unspoiled
- Privation — lack of basic necessities
- Probity — honesty and integrity
- Proclivity — natural tendency
- Prodigal — wastefully extravagant
- Prodigious — enormous; impressive
- Prodigy — gifted person
- Profligate — wasteful
- Profound — deep; insightful
- Profusion — abundance
- Progeny — descendants
- Prognosis — medical forecast
- Prognosticate — predict future events
- Overwrought – extremely agitated or emotionally overworked
- Pacify – to calm or bring peace
- Palatable – acceptable or pleasant, especially in taste
- Palliate – to relieve symptoms without curing
- Palpable – easily noticeable; obvious
- Paltry – insignificant; trivial
- Panacea – a universal solution for all problems
- Panache – flamboyant confidence and style
- Pandemic – a disease affecting a large geographic area
- Paradigm – a typical example or model
- Paradox – a statement that contradicts itself yet may be true
- Paragon – a perfect example of excellence
- Paramount – more important than anything else
- Pariah – a social outcast
- Parsimonious – extremely frugal; unwilling to spend
- Partiality – unfair bias or preference
- Pastiche – a work that imitates another style
- Patent – obvious; easily recognizable
- Paternalistic – controlling in a fatherly but restrictive manner
- Pathological – relating to disease or abnormal behavior
- Patriarch – male head of a family
- Patronize – to support; or to treat condescendingly
- Paucity – scarcity; small quantity
- Peccadillo – a minor fault or offense
- Pedagogy – method and practice of teaching
- Pedantic – overly concerned with rules or details
- Pedestrian – dull; lacking imagination
- Peerless – unmatched; superior
- Pejorative – expressing disapproval
- Pellucid – clear and easily understood
- Penchant – strong liking or preference
- Penitent – feeling regret for wrongdoing
- Penurious – extremely poor; stingy
- Peremptory – demanding immediate obedience
- Perennial – lasting for a long time
- Perfidy – betrayal of trust
- Perfunctory – done carelessly or superficially
- Perilous – dangerous; risky
- Pernicious – harmful in a subtle or gradual way
- Perquisite – a benefit or privilege
- Perspicacious – having keen understanding
- Pertinent – relevant and appropriate
- Perturb – to disturb or upset
- Pervasive – widespread; spreading everywhere
- Pessimism – expecting the worst
- Petulant – irritable or bad-tempered
- Phlegmatic – calm, unemotional
- Piety – religious devotion
- Pillage – to plunder or rob violently
- Pinnacle – highest point of achievement
- Pious – devoutly religious
- Pithy – concise and meaningful
- Placate – to appease or soothe
- Placid – calm and peaceful
- Plaintive – sounding sad or mournful
- Plausible – believable; appearing reasonable
- Plethora – excessive amount
- Plucky – courageous and determined
- Plutocracy – rule by the wealthy
- Poignant – deeply moving or emotional
- Ponderous – slow and heavy
- Pontificate – speak pompously
- Portent – a sign or warning
- Pragmatic – practical; realistic
- Prattle – foolish or trivial talk
- Precarious – unstable; risky
- Precept – a rule or principle
- Preclude – to prevent or make impossible
- Precocious – unusually advanced for age
- Predilection – preference; liking
- Preeminent – surpassing all others
- Prejudice – preconceived judgment
- Preposterous – absurd; ridiculous
- Presage – a warning or omen
- Prescient – having foresight
- Prestige – widespread respect
- Presumptuous – overly bold or confident
- Pretentious – attempting to impress by exaggeration
- Pretext – a false reason given to mask the real purpose
- Prevail – to gain victory; to dominate
- Prevaricate – to avoid telling the truth
- Pristine – pure; unspoiled
- Privation – lack of necessities
- Probity – moral integrity
- Proclivity – natural tendency or inclination
- Prodigal – wastefully extravagant
- Prodigious – remarkably large or impressive
- Prodigy – a highly talented young person
- Profligate – recklessly wasteful
- Profound – deep; intense
- Progenitor – an ancestor or founder
- Proliferate – to multiply rapidly
- Prolific – producing many works or offspring
- Prologue – introductory section
- Promulgate – to declare publicly
- Propensity – natural inclination
- Propitiate – to win favor by appeasement
- Proponent – supporter; advocate
- Proprietary – relating to ownership
- Prosaic – unimaginative; dull
- Proscribe – to forbid
- Proselytize – to convert someone to a belief
- Prosperity – wealth and success
- Protagonist – main character or leader
- Protean – able to change easily; versatile
- Protocol – official procedure
- Provocation – action that triggers a reaction
- Prudent – wise and careful
- Pseudonym – a fictitious name
- Pugnacious – eager to fight
- Pulchritude – physical beauty
- Punctilious – extremely attentive to detail
- Pundit – an expert
- Purloin – to steal
- Pusillanimous – cowardly
Set 1 | Set 2 | Set 3 | Set 4 | Set 5