Day 36 – Words A176–A180
Today’s vocabulary collection explores conflict, cause and effect, ancestral roots, and deep antiquity — ideal for analytical writing, UPSC essays, GRE verbal, and classical history.
✳️ Word 1: Antagonism
• Phonics: /ænˈtæɡ.ə.nɪ.zəm/
• Part of Speech: Noun
• Meaning: Active opposition or hostility
• Example Sentence:
“There was open antagonism between the protesting group and the officials.”
• Mnemonic/Cue:
⚔️ Antagonism = anti (against) + organism = opposition
• Mini Quiz:
Their long-standing _______ made teamwork impossible.
A) Altruism B) Antagonism C) Affection D) Apathy
✅ Answer: B) Antagonism
✳️ Word 2: Antagonize
• Phonics: /ænˈtæɡ.ə.naɪz/
• Part of Speech: Verb
• Meaning: To provoke or make someone hostile
• Example Sentence:
“Don’t antagonize your peers by mocking their opinions.”
• Mnemonic/Cue:
🧨 Antagonize = ignite antagonism
• Mini Quiz:
He managed to _______ nearly everyone with his sarcastic tone.
A) Amuse B) Antagonize C) Allure D) Announce
✅ Answer: B) Antagonize
✳️ Word 3: Antecedent
• Phonics: /ˌæn.tɪˈsiː.dənt/
• Part of Speech: Noun
• Meaning: A thing or event that existed before another; in grammar, a noun that a pronoun refers to
• Example Sentence:
“In the sentence ‘John lost his book,’ John is the antecedent of his.”
• Mnemonic/Cue:
⏮️ Ante = before + cedent = going → comes before
• Mini Quiz:
In logical reasoning, every effect must have an _______.
A) Analysis B) Anomaly C) Antecedent D) Aphorism
✅ Answer: C) Antecedent
✳️ Word 4: Antecedents
• Phonics: /ˌæn.tɪˈsiː.dənts/
• Part of Speech: Noun (plural)
• Meaning: One’s ancestors or prior background
• Example Sentence:
“She was proud of her royal antecedents.”
• Mnemonic/Cue:
🧬 Antecedents = people who came before you
• Mini Quiz:
He traced his family _______ back to the 17th century.
A) Affiliations B) Allegories C) Antecedents D) Amendments
✅ Answer: C) Antecedents
✳️ Word 5: Antediluvian
• Phonics: /ˌæn.ti.dɪˈluː.vi.ən/
• Part of Speech: Adjective
• Meaning: Extremely old or outdated; literally “before the biblical flood”
• Example Sentence:
“His antediluvian views on gender shocked the progressive audience.”
• Mnemonic/Cue:
🌊 Anti + deluge = before the flood → ancient
• Mini Quiz:
That antediluvian mobile still has a physical antenna! What does that suggest?
A) It’s modern B) It’s ancient C) It’s unique D) It’s advanced
✅ Answer: B) It’s ancient
📒 Quick Recap Table
| Word | Meaning | Example Use |
|---|---|---|
| Antagonism | Hostility or opposition | “Years of antagonism ended in conflict.” |
| Antagonize | To provoke hostility | “His remarks antagonized the whole team.” |
| Antecedent | Something that came before | “The antecedent of the argument was flawed.” |
| Antecedents | Ancestors or historical background | “His antecedents were political leaders.” |
| Antediluvian | Outdated or extremely old | “She used antediluvian teaching methods.” |
🎯 Mini Practice Quiz
- What is the grammatical term for a noun that a pronoun refers to?
- Which word means provoking someone into anger?
- What is an adjective that means so old it belongs to a forgotten time?
✅ Answers:
- Antecedent 2) Antagonize 3) Antediluvian
💬 Try It Yourself
✍️ Use one of today’s words in your own sentence!
Example: “His antediluvian mindset clashed with modern values.”
📥 Download PDFs
📎 Day 36 – Flashcards PDF
📎 Day 36 – Practice Quiz PDF
📚 Explore More
📖 Day 35 Vocabulary – Anodyne to Anonymous
📖 All “A” Words – Complete Vocabulary Index
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