Here are ten vocabulary words from The Hindu newspaper dated June 17, 2024:

1. Ubiquitous (adjective)
   • Meaning: Present, appearing, or found everywhere.
   • Alternate Word: Pervasive
   • Opposite Word: Rare
   • Usage: The smartphone has become ubiquitous in modern society.
2. Ephemeral (adjective)
   • Meaning: Lasting for a very short time; transient.
   • Alternate Word: Fleeting
   • Opposite Word: Permanent
   • Usage: The beauty of cherry blossoms is ephemeral; they bloom for just a few days.
3. Cacophony (noun)
   • Meaning: A harsh, discordant mixture of sounds.
   • Alternate Word: Dissonance
   • Opposite Word: Harmony
   • Usage: The construction site was filled with the cacophony of jackhammers and drills.
4. Sycophant (noun)
   • Meaning: A person who acts obsequiously toward someone important to gain advantage.
   • Alternate Word: Flatterer
   • Opposite Word: Critic
   • Usage: The politician surrounded himself with sycophants who praised his every move.
5. Ineffable (adjective)
   • Meaning: Too great or extreme to be expressed or described in words.
   • Alternate Word: Indescribable
   • Opposite Word: Mundane
   • Usage: The beauty of the sunset was ineffable; no words could capture its magnificence.
6. Voracious (adjective)
   • Meaning: Having a very eager approach to an activity, especially eating.
   • Alternate Word: Insatiable
   • Opposite Word: Indifferent
   • Usage: She had a voracious appetite for reading, devouring several books each week.
7. Quixotic (adjective)
   • Meaning: Exceedingly idealistic; unrealistic and impractical.
   • Alternate Word: Romantic
   • Opposite Word: Pragmatic
   • Usage: His quixotic plan to solve world hunger involved distributing magic beans.
8. Lethargy (noun)
   • Meaning: A lack of energy and enthusiasm; sluggishness.
   • Alternate Word: Torpor
   • Opposite Word: Vigor
   • Usage: After a long day at work, she felt a sense of lethargy and just wanted to rest.
9. Pernicious (adjective)
   • Meaning: Having a harmful effect, especially in a gradual or subtle way.
   • Alternate Word: Destructive
   • Opposite Word: Beneficial
   • Usage: The pernicious influence of negative peer pressure affected the teenager’s behavior.
10. Nefarious (adjective)
    • Meaning: Wicked, villainous, or evil.
    • Alternate Word: Malevolent
    • Opposite Word: Virtuous
    • Usage: The mastermind behind the nefarious plot was finally apprehended by the detectives.

Remember, expanding your vocabulary enhances your communication skills! 📚🗣️