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1. iconoclast: one who attacks popular beliefs or institution
“Iconoclast” comes from the Greek words meaning “image breaker”
The popular columnist was an inveterate iconoclast, avidly attacking public figures no
matter their party affiliation.
Iconoclastic views.
2. Ignominy: a deep disgrace
After the big scandal the formerly high-flying investment banker fell into a life of shame and
ignominy.
Something that is deeply disgraced is called ignominious. The ignominious genocide in
Uganda.
3. Peccable: means liable to sin, and while we’re at it, peccadillo is a minor sin.
4. Imperious: bossy and arrogant
The director’s imperious style rubbed everyone the wrong way; he always seemed to be giving
orders and never listened to what anyone said.
5. Impetuous: impulsive, extremely impatient
Samantha was so impetuous that she never took more than a few seconds to make up her
mind. Don’t confuse it with impetus.
6. Inane: silly and senseless.
Their plan to make an indoor swimming pool by flooding their basement was inane.
7. Incense: to make very angry
Jeremy was incensed when I told him that even though he was stupid and loathsome, he
would still be my best friend.
My comment about his lovely painting of a tree incensed the artist, who said it was actually
the portrait of his mother.
8. Incipient: beginning, emerging
Sitting in class, Henrietta detected an incipient tingle of boredom that told her that she
would soon be asleep.
9. Incisive: cutting right to the heart of the matter.
When a surgeon cuts you, he actually makes an incision. To be incisive means to be as sharp
as a scalpel in a figurative sense.
Lloyd’s essays were always incisive; he never wasted any words and his reasoning was
always sharp and persuasive.
10. Indigent: poor
The indigent family of the Chhota Jadugar had little to eat, nothing to spend, and virtually
nothing to wear.
11. Indignant: Indignation
12. Indolent: lazy
The indolent teenagers slept late, moped around, and never looked for summer jobs.
The Shikari after returning from Nepal lived a life of indolence and reticence.
13. Ineffable: incapable of being expressed or described.
The ineffable beauties of nature which bring tears to our eyes.
14. Inept: clumsy, incompetent, gauche(unsophisticated and socially awkward) gauche Apurv
Inept is the opposite of Adept/Adroit.
Ineptitude is the opposite of aptitude.
Julia’s inept attempt to humor drew only groans from the audience.
15. Infamous: shamefully wicked.
Infamous torture chamber
Infamy is the state of being infamous.
16. Ingenuous: frank, without deception, simple artless, charmingly naïve.
An ingénue is a somewhat naïve young woman. Don’t confuse with ingenious.
17. Injunction:
Doctor’s injunctions to quit smoking.
18. Innocuous: harmless, banal
19. Inordinate: excessive, unreasonable
Romeo’s love for Juliet was perhaps a bit inordinate, given the outcome of their relation.
The young math teacher paid an inordinate amount of attention to the senior blond teacher.
20. Insolent: arrogant, insulting
21. Insular: insula (Latin island) , peninsula, insularity.
22. Insurgent: rebel.
The heavily armed insurgents.
The great insurgency of 1857.
23. Inundate: overwhelmed, flooded.
The 15 year old girl was inundated with letters and telegrams after she gave birth to
octuplets.
24. Invective: insultive or abusive speech.
Herman wasn’t much of an orator, but he was brilliant at invective.
25.