Let’s explore some exceptional English words from The Hindu Editorial on June 18, 2024:

1. SHRINE (noun)
   • Meaning: A place regarded as holy because of its associations with a divinity or a sacred person or relic, marked by a building or other construction.
   • Synonyms: Holy place, temple, church
   • Antonyms: Public place, apartment, city
   • Usage Sentence: The medieval pilgrim route led to the shrine of St. James
2. EVINCE (verb)
   • Meaning: To reveal the presence of a quality or feeling.
   • Synonyms: Reveal, show, make clear
   • Antonyms: Conceal, cover, hide
   • Usage Sentence: His letters evince the excitement he felt about undertaking this journey.
3. INEXORABLE (adjective)
   • Meaning: Impossible to stop or prevent.
   • Synonyms: Relentless, unstoppable, unavoidable
   • Antonyms: Hesitant, halted, dubious
   • Usage Sentence: The approach of war seemed inexorable during 1939.
4. ONSLAUGHT (noun)
   • Meaning: A fierce or destructive attack.
   • Synonyms: Assault, attack, offensive
   • Antonyms: Defense, guard, shield
   • Usage Sentence: Our army tried to withstand the enemy onslaught.
5. VIVACITY (noun)
   • Meaning: (Especially in a woman) the quality of being attractively lively and animated.
   • Synonyms: Ebullience, sparkle, spirit
   • Antonyms: Indolence, laziness, listlessness
   • Usage Sentence: He was struck by her vivacity, humor, and charm.
6. SPUR (noun)
   • Meaning: A thing that prompts or encourages someone; an incentive.
   • Synonyms: Stimulus, incentive, encouragement
   • Antonyms: Disincentive, discouragement
   • Usage Sentence: Profit was both the spur and the reward of the enterprise.
7. INFIDEL (noun)
   • Meaning: A person who does not believe in religion or adheres to a religion other than one’s own.
   • Synonyms: Nonbeliever, heathen, pagan
   • Antonyms: Believer, conformer, conformist
   • Usage Sentence: They wanted to secure the Holy Places from the infidel.
8. BELEAGUER (verb)
   • Meaning: To lay siege to a place; besiege.
   • Synonyms: Besieged, under siege, blockaded
   • Antonyms: Free, liberate
   • Usage Sentence: Our leaders decided to beleaguer the city.
9. MENACE (verb)
   • Meaning: To threaten, especially in a malignant or hostile manner.
   • Synonyms: Threaten, scare, imperil
   • Antonyms: Guard, protect, save
   • Usage Sentence: Africa’s elephants are still menaced by poaching.
10. THWART (verb)
    • Meaning: To obstruct or prevent (someone) from accomplishing something.
    • Synonyms: Hinder, impede, frustrate
    • Antonyms: Assist, facilitate, support
    • Usage Sentence: The detective worked tirelessly to thwart the criminal’s plans.

Feel free to explore these words further and incorporate them into your vocabulary! 😊