Today's idioms to chop and change

Daily Dose of Idioms

20 words from this day's editorials with Hindi meaning

Read the words first, then the editorial: you will meet them in the text and remember them. Tap a word for its dictionary page.

Moot (adjective/verb)

Open to discussion; debatable (विवाद योग्य). / Raise for discussion विचार के लिए उठाना

Synonyms: Debatable, Irrelevant, Academic, Unsettled

Antonyms: Relevant, Certain, Settled, Indisputable

Example: The point became moot after the policy was withdrawn.

Splurge (verb)

Spend money freely or extravagantly. फिजूलखर्ची करना

Synonyms: Lavish, Squander, Indulge, Spendthrift

Antonyms: Save, Economize, Hoard, Scrimp

Example: She decided to splurge on a new phone after getting her bonus.

Bedraggled (adjective)

Dirty and untidy, especially after being wet or in a mess. गीला और अस्त-व्यस्त

Synonyms: Disheveled, Scruffy, Unkempt, Soaked

Antonyms: Neat, Tidy, Groomed, Orderly

Example: He arrived bedraggled after walking through the heavy rain.

Skullduggery (noun)

Dishonest or unfair behavior, especially secret actions. धोखाधड़ी

Synonyms: Deceit, Trickery, Fraud, Chicanery

Antonyms: Honesty, Integrity, Fairness, Uprightness

Example: The deal was cancelled after evidence of skullduggery came to light.

Hodgepodge (noun)

A confused mixture of different things. मिश्रण

Synonyms: Mixture, Medley, Hotchpotch, Patchwork

Antonyms: Order, Uniformity, Consistency, Harmony

Example: The room was a hodgepodge of old furniture and modern gadgets.

Brouhaha (noun)

A noisy and overexcited reaction or uproar. हंगामा

Synonyms: Uproar, Commotion, Tumult, Hullabaloo

Antonyms: Calm, Silence, Peace, Tranquility

Example: There was a brouhaha in the hall when the results were announced.

Miasma (noun)

A heavy, unpleasant, and unhealthy smell or vapor. दुर्गंध

Synonyms: Stench, Fumes, Vapors, Noxiousness

Antonyms: Freshness, Fragrance, Purity, Cleanliness

Example: A miasma of smoke and garbage hung over the street.

Dour (adjective)

Stern, harsh, and gloomy in manner or appearance. उदास

Synonyms: Gloomy, Stern, Sullen, Grim

Antonyms: Cheerful, Pleasant, Friendly, Jovial

Example: His dour expression made everyone hesitate to speak.

Svelte (adjective)

Slender and graceful in appearance. सुडौल

Synonyms: Slim, Graceful, Elegant, Lithem

Antonyms: Plump, Bulky, Stocky, Clumsy

Example: She looked svelte in her new outfit.

Tremulous (adjective)

Shaking or quivering slightly, often from fear, nervousness, or emotion. काँपता हुआ; भय से थरथराता

Synonyms: Trembling, Quivering, Shaky, Timid

Antonyms: Steady, Firm, Confident, Unwavering

Example: With a tremulous voice, he asked if everything would be alright.

Consonance (noun)

The repetition of similar consonant sounds in nearby words, especially at the end or middle of words. व्यंजन ध्वनियों की पुनरावृत्ति

Synonyms: Harmonic agreement, Euphony, Resonance, Alliteration

Antonyms: Dissonance, Discord, Cacophony, Clashing

Example: The consonance in “blank and think” gives the line a musical flow.

Decadence (noun)

Moral or cultural decline, often marked by excessive luxury and lack of discipline. नैतिक या सांस्कृतिक पतन

Synonyms: Decline, Degeneration, Dissolution, Depravity

Antonyms: Purity, Discipline, Morality, Virtue

Example: Many critics saw the lavish lifestyle of the elites as a sign of decadence.

Procrastinate (verb)

Delay or postpone action; keep putting off doing something. टालमटोल करना

Synonyms: Postpone, Delay, Defer, Stall

Antonyms: Expedite, Advance, Accelerate, Complete

Example: He tends to procrastinate and finishes assignments at the last minute.

Germinate (verb)

Begin to grow and develop; (of a seed or spore) start sprouting. अंकुरित होना

Synonyms: Sprout, Bud, Grow, Develop

Antonyms: Wither, Die, Decay, Stagnate

Example: The seeds will germinate quickly in warm, moist soil.

Fluctuate (verb)

Rise and fall irregularly; change frequently in level, amount, or condition. उतार-चढ़ाव होना

Synonyms: Vary, Oscillate, Waver, Swing

Antonyms: Stabilize, Steady, Maintain, Fix

Example: Fuel prices fluctuate depending on global supply and demand.

Epitaph (noun)

A short text written on a tombstone in memory of a dead person. समाधि-लेख

Synonyms: Inscription, Eulogy, Tribute, Memorial

Antonyms: Obscurity, Forgetfulness, Neglect, Silence

Example: The epitaph on his grave described him as a kind and fearless man.

Calibrate (verb)

Make precise adjustments to a measuring instrument or system so it gives accurate results. अंशांकन करना

Synonyms: Adjust, Standardize, Fine-tune, Gauge

Antonyms: Miscalibrate, Misadjust, Misalign, Distort

Example: The engineer calibrated the pressure gauge before starting the experiment.

Intrusion (noun)

An unwelcome entry or interference into someone’s place, activity, or privacy. अनधिकार प्रवेश

Synonyms: Interference, Invasion, Encroachment, Trespass

Antonyms: Withdrawal, Retreat, Exit, Departure

Example: The constant phone calls felt like an intrusion into her personal life.

Amass (verb)

Gather together or collect a large amount of something, especially over time. संचय करना

Synonyms: Accumulate, Collect, Gather, Assemble

Antonyms: Disperse, Scatter, Dissipate, Squander

Example: She managed to amass a large collection of rare coins over the years.

Exhume (verb)

Dig out something buried, especially a dead body from a grave. कब्र से निकालना

Synonyms: Unearth, Dig up, Disinter, Extract

Antonyms: Bury, Inter, Conceal, Cover

Example: The authorities decided to exhume the body for further investigation.

The editorial

Source: Daily Dose of Idioms · 14 Jan 2026

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Quick quiz: 5 questions on these words

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

1. Synonym of Calibrate

2. Antonym of Procrastinate

3. Synonym of Moot

4. Antonym of Svelte

5. Synonym of Epitaph

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