Rule: One of the + plural noun

Spotting Error

The editorial

Source: Spotting Error · 10 Sep 2026

The expression 'one of' must be followed by a plural noun, because you are picking one item out of many. The verb, however, agrees with 'one' and therefore stays singular.

Example: One of the / greatest problem / of our times / is unemployment. / No error

Explanation: The error is in the second part. 'One of the' must take a plural noun, so it should be 'greatest problems'. Corrected sentence: One of the greatest problems of our times is…

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20 words from this day's editorials with Hindi meaning

The important words of this editorial with Hindi meaning, synonyms, antonyms and an example. Tap a word for its dictionary page.

Perfunctory (adjective)

Done as a routine duty, without real interest, care or effort. औपचारिक, लापरवाह

Synonyms: Cursory, Superficial, Mechanical, Half-Hearted

Antonyms: Thorough, Diligent, Careful, Meticulous

Example: The guard gave the bag a perfunctory look and waved us in.

Inviolable (adjective)

Too important or sacred to be broken, attacked or ignored. अनुल्लंघनीय, पवित्र

Synonyms: Sacrosanct, Unbreakable, Sacred, Untouchable

Antonyms: Breakable, Violable, Negotiable, Alterable

Example: In our family, Sunday dinner together is an inviolable rule.

Acquiescence (noun)

Quiet acceptance of something without protest, even if one is not happy about it. मौन सहमति, स्वीकृति

Synonyms: Consent, Compliance, Assent, Submission

Antonyms: Resistance, Refusal, Objection, Defiance

Example: Her silence at the meeting was taken as acquiescence to the new timings.

Corrosive (adjective)

Slowly eating away or destroying something, whether metal or trust. क्षयकारी, विनाशकारी

Synonyms: Destructive, Caustic, Erosive, Damaging

Antonyms: Harmless, Protective, Healing, Benign

Example: Constant sarcasm has a corrosive effect on a team's morale.

Onerous (adjective)

Involving heavy effort, duty or expense; burdensome. बोझिल, भारी

Synonyms: Burdensome, Taxing, Arduous, Demanding

Antonyms: Easy, Light, Effortless, Simple

Example: Filing three separate returns every month proved onerous for the small shop.

Discordant (adjective)

Not in agreement or harmony; harsh and clashing in sound or opinion. बेसुरा, असंगत

Synonyms: Clashing, Jarring, Dissonant, Conflicting

Antonyms: Harmonious, Agreeing, Melodious, Consistent

Example: His angry remark struck a discordant note at the farewell party.

Intractable (adjective)

Very hard to solve, control or deal with. दुस्साध्य, ज़िद्दी

Synonyms: Unmanageable, Stubborn, Insoluble, Obstinate

Antonyms: Manageable, Solvable, Docile, Tractable

Example: Water sharing between the two states remains an intractable problem.

Obfuscation (noun)

The act of making something deliberately unclear or confusing. भ्रम, अस्पष्टता

Synonyms: Confusion, Vagueness, Cloudiness, Concealment

Antonyms: Clarity, Transparency, Explanation, Openness

Example: The reply to our query was pure obfuscation, full of jargon and no numbers.

Profligacy (noun)

Reckless, wasteful spending of money or resources. फ़िज़ूलख़र्ची, अपव्यय

Synonyms: Extravagance, Wastefulness, Squandering, Prodigality

Antonyms: Thrift, Frugality, Economy, Prudence

Example: The audit blamed the loss on the profligacy of the earlier management.

Complacency (noun)

Smug satisfaction with things as they are, so that one stops trying or checking. आत्मसंतुष्टि, ढिलाई

Synonyms: Self-Satisfaction, Smugness, Laxity, Overconfidence

Antonyms: Vigilance, Alertness, Diligence, Concern

Example: One good mock test led to complacency, and his score fell the next month.

Exhortation (noun)

Strong urging or encouragement to do something. प्रोत्साहन, आग्रह

Synonyms: Urging, Appeal, Encouragement, Admonition

Antonyms: Discouragement, Dissuasion, Silence, Deterrence

Example: The principal's exhortation to read daily changed a few students' habits.

Sanguine (adjective)

Cheerfully confident and optimistic, especially about a difficult situation. आशावादी, ख़ुशमिज़ाज

Synonyms: Optimistic, Hopeful, Confident, Upbeat

Antonyms: Pessimistic, Gloomy, Anxious, Despondent

Example: She stayed sanguine about the result even after a tough paper.

Indispensable (adjective)

So necessary that you cannot manage without it. अनिवार्य, अपरिहार्य

Synonyms: Essential, Vital, Crucial, Necessary

Antonyms: Dispensable, Unnecessary, Optional, Superfluous

Example: A good dictionary is indispensable for serious exam preparation.

Culpable (adjective)

Deserving blame for something wrong that has happened. दोषी, निंदनीय

Synonyms: Blameworthy, Guilty, Answerable, At Fault

Antonyms: Blameless, Innocent, Faultless, Excusable

Example: The contractor was held culpable for using substandard cement.

Avarice (noun)

Extreme greed for money or possessions. लालच, लोभ

Synonyms: Greed, Cupidity, Rapacity, Covetousness

Antonyms: Generosity, Contentment, Charity, Selflessness

Example: Avarice made the builder add two illegal floors to the house.

Facile (adjective)

Too simple to be convincing; achieved too easily and without depth. सतही, सरलीकृत

Synonyms: Superficial, Simplistic, Shallow, Glib

Antonyms: Profound, Thorough, Considered, Deep

Example: Blaming students for the traffic mess is a facile explanation.

Asymmetry (noun)

A lack of balance or equality between two sides, parties or amounts. असमानता, विषमता

Synonyms: Imbalance, Inequality, Disparity, Unevenness

Antonyms: Symmetry, Balance, Parity, Equality

Example: There is a clear asymmetry of power between a landlord and a new tenant.

Treacherous (adjective)

Not to be trusted; or looking safe while actually being dangerous. विश्वासघाती, ख़तरनाक

Synonyms: Disloyal, Deceitful, Perilous, Unreliable

Antonyms: Loyal, Faithful, Safe, Trustworthy

Example: The wet ghat road looks calm but is treacherous after dark.

Accretion (noun)

Slow growth or increase by the gradual addition of layers or parts. वृद्धि, संचय

Synonyms: Accumulation, Build-Up, Growth, Increment

Antonyms: Erosion, Depletion, Reduction, Loss

Example: His vocabulary grew by the quiet accretion of ten words a day.

Adversarial (adjective)

Involving opposition or conflict between two sides. विरोधात्मक, टकराव वाला

Synonyms: Antagonistic, Confrontational, Hostile, Combative

Antonyms: Cooperative, Collaborative, Friendly, Amicable

Example: The meeting turned adversarial once the audit report was mentioned.

Quick quiz: 5 questions on these words

Synonyms and antonyms, the way exams ask them. Answers show as you tap.

1. Synonym of Facile

2. Antonym of Obfuscation

3. Synonym of Treacherous

4. Antonym of Inviolable

5. Synonym of Acquiescence

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