nadir
lowest point; point on the celestial sphere diametrically opposite the zenith

She was perhaps experiencing the nadir of her career

naivety
quality of being unsophisticated; simplicity; artlessness; gullibility; ADJ. naive(na\”ive): ingenuous; lacking worldliness; simple; credulous

The village girl’s naivety caught everyone’s attention

narcissist
conceited person; N. narcissism; CF. narcissus

The film star is an absolute narcissist

narrative
related to telling a story; N: narrated account; story; V. narrate: tell (a story); CF. narration

The Mahabharata is a narrative in an epic style

nascent
incipient; coming into being or existence;

She developed a nascent ability in music

natation
swimming

The girl took part in the national natation championships

natty
neatly or smartly dressed; dapper; smart;

A natty dresser

nauseate
cause to become sick; fill with disgust; fill nausea

The smell made her feel nauseatic

nautical
pertaining to ships or navigation

They were measuring the nautical miles of the sea route

navigable
(of a body of water) wide and deep enough to allow ships to pass through; (of a ship or aircraft) able to be steered

The route is navigable

nebulous
vague; hazy; cloudy; of a nebula

His propositions sound nebulous

necromancy
black magic; sorcery; dealings with the dead; art that professes to communicate with the spirits of the dead so as to predict the future; CF. necromancer; CF. necro+divination; CF. necro-: death; Ex. Necropolis

Dr.Faustus specializes in necromancy in order to enjoy worldly pleasures

nefarious
very wicked

A nefarious liar

negate
cancel out; nullify; cause to have no effect; deny; N. negation

The jury negated the alibi’s statements

negligence
neglect; failure to take reasonable care; ADJ. negligent: neglectful; lax; not taking enough care

She failed owing to sheer negligence

negligible
so small, trifling, or unimportant as to be easily disregarded

The mistake is negligible

nemesis
someone seeking revenge; source of downfall or ruin; CF. Nemesis

He was not a human being- a nemesis

neologism
new or newly coined word or phrase

English lexicon allows neologism

neophyte
recent convert; new member of a religious group; beginner; CF. plant

The Chief Minister is a neophyte of Christianity

nepotism
favoritism (to a relative); CF. nephew

Irrational nepotism for a few spoiled all her relations

nether
lower; Ex. nether garments/regions

The nether regions of the world are still unexplored

nettle
irritate; annoy; vex; ADJ. nettlesome

The children nettled their uncle

nexus
connection

The Minister’s obnoxious nexus with the underworld is known to the public

nib
beak(bill); pen point

The ink over flows because of the defective nib

nicety
precision; accuracy; minute distinction or difference; Ex. to a nicety: exactly; precisely;

She could not distinguish between niceties

niggardly
meanly stingy; parsimonious; N. niggard: stingy person

Uncle Srooge was a niggardly person

niggle
spend too much time on minor points (esp. when finding fault); find fault;

Do not niggle over unnecessary details

nihilist
one who considers traditional beliefs to be groundless and existence meaningless; absolute skeptic; revolutionary terrorist; CF. nihilism: belief that nothing has meaning or value; belief that destruction of existing political or social institutions is necessary for future improvement

He is a nihilist and any discussion with him would yield nothing

nip
snip off; stop something’s growth or development; bite; make numb with cold; Ex. nip the plan; Ex. fingers nipped by the extreme chill

A guard dog nipped the postman

nirvana
in Buddhist teachings, the ideal state in which the individual loses himself in the attainment of an impersonal beatitude

Nirvana is salvation of the soul

nocturnal
done or active at night; Ex. nocturnal animals/raids; CF. nocturne

A civet cat is a nocturnal animal

noisome
foul smelling; very unpleasant; unwholesome

The noisome odor made her feel bilious

nomadic
wandering; N. nomad: tribe who migrates from place to place

Many tribes in Africa lead a nomadic life

nomenclature
terminology(system of specialized words); system of names or naming things

The nomenclature of mineralogy

nominal
in name only; of a name; trifling; (of a sum of money) very small; CF. nominate: propose as a candidate; appoint

The fees is nominal

nonchalance
indifference; lack of concern; composure; ADJ. nonchalant: unconcerned; cool; indifferent;

He has a nonchalant attitude to his debts

noncommittal
neutral; refusing commitment to a particular opinion; unpledged; undecided

He is noncommittal to any relationship

nondescript
indistinctive; ordinary; ordinary-looking;

He’s a nondescript fellow in a crowd

nonentity
person of no importance; nonexistence

A nonentity like him need not be considered

nonplus
put at a loss; bring to a halt by confusion; perplex; CF. no more

He has been nonplused by Mr. Dry’s desiring him to tell what it was that he endeavored to prove. –Spectator

nostalgia
homesickness; longing for the past; Ex. nostalgia for the clothes of 1920s; ADJ. nostalgic

The novel triggers nostalgia

nostrum
questionable medicine; quack medicine; CF. our (remedy)

The incentives of agitators, the arts of impostors and the nostrums of quacks. –Brougham

notable
conspicuous; worthy of note; remarkable; important; distinguished; noted

The point he made is notable

notoriety
disrepute; ill fame

He has a craze for notoriety

nova
star that suddenly becomes much brighter and then returns to its original brightness

A small nova appeared in 1881

novelty
something new; newness; ADJ. novel: new; original

He brought novelty to literature

novice
beginner

He is a novice in politics

noxious
harmful; CF. obnoxious

Opium has noxious effects

nuance
shade of slight difference in meaning or color; subtle distinction

The nuances of economics

nubile
marriageable; of marriageable age; CF. connubial

The major has a nubile daughter

nugatory
worthless; futile

They indulged in a nugatory discussion

nullify
make invalid; make null; invalidate

The judge nullified the defendant’s claims

numismatist
person who collects coins; N. numismatics: study or collection of money, coins, and medals

He is a renowned numismatist

nuptial
related to marriage or the wedding ceremony; N. nuptials: wedding ceremony

This is the season of nuptials

nurture
nourish; feed; educate; rear; care for while it is growing or developing; foster; cultivate; N: something that nourishes; rearing

Kids in the country are nurtured to become terrorists

nutrient
nourishing substance; ADJ: providing nourishment

Vitamins are important nutrients for the development of the body

nutrition
process of nourishing or being nourished; CF. malnutrition

Poor nutrition made the children weak

nourishment
something that nourishes; food

Learn to seek the nourishment of their souls. –Hooker

Word List Discussion

Ask Your Questions and Get Answers

Got something to say?