The hindu

Vignette (noun)

A brief evocative description, account, or episode. शब्दचित्र, लघुचित्र

Synonyms: Depiction, Portrayal, Characterisation, Sketch, Delineation

Example: She wrote several vignettes of small-town life.

Bleakness (noun)

The quality or state of being hopeless, discouraging, or unlikely to have a favourable outcome. निराशा, बुरे हालात

Synonyms: Desolation, Gloominess, Dreariness, Cheerlessness

Antonyms: Delight, Cheer, Joy, Happiness, Warmth

Example: The bleakness of the postwar period.

Stale (adjective)

No longer new or fresh, usually as a result of being kept for too long: बासी, उबाऊ, फीका

Synonyms: Musty, Hackneyed, Trite, Banal, Commonplace

Antonyms: Fresh, Original, New, Interesting

Example: The programme has become stale and lacklustre.

Surreal (adjective)

Strange; not seeming real; like a dream: अवास्तविक, स्वप्निल

Synonyms: Dreamlike, Unreal, Bizarre, Weird, Phantasmagorical

Antonyms: Real, Natural, Veritable, Actual, Unimaginative

Example: After eating drug-laced brownies, Gerry had a surreal experience in which she believed she was flying through the air like a bird.

Slapstick (noun)

Comedy based on deliberately clumsy actions and humorously embarrassing events. तमाशा, हँसी मज़ाक

Synonyms: Farce, Buffoonery, Comedy, Burlesque

Antonyms: Grave, Serious, Tragic, Sad

Example: He is a talented actor whose roles range from slapstick to serious drama.

Vernacular (noun)

The language or dialect spoken by the ordinary people of a country or region. मातृभाषा, स्थानीय भाषा

Synonyms: Jargon, Lingo, Dialect, Patois, Argot

Antonyms: Bookish, Formal, Learned, Literary

Example: Because she spoke in the southern vernacular, she often used the word “ya’ll” in conversation.

Imitate (verb)

To copy someone’s speech or behavior, or to copy something as a model: नक़ल करना, अनुकरण करना

Synonyms: Copy, Simulate, Mimic, Emulate, Replicate

Antonyms: Differ, Oppose, Originate, Invent

Example: Birds are starting to imitate the ring tones of mobile phones.

Testament (noun)

Proof of something: साक्षी, गवाही, प्रमाण

Synonyms: Testimony, Witness, Evidence, Proof

Antonyms: Disproof, Surmise, Guess, Conjecture

Example: The “before” and “after” pictures are a testament to the effectiveness of the weight loss program.

Tableau (noun)

A dramatic image, sometimes a reenactment of a historical scene. चित्र, झांकी, चित्रमय तसवीर

Synonyms: Picture, Painting, Representation, Portrayal, Illustration, Image

Example: The tableau of the troops crossing the river is one of the most famous paintings in the world.

Voyeurism (noun)

Enjoyment from seeing the pain or distress of others./ the practice of obtaining sexual gratification from observing others. ताक-झांक, दर्शनरति

Synonyms: Prying, Surveillance, Espionage, Nosiness

Example: The media has made unfeeling voyeurs of all of us.