Here are 110 words for NET English, each with a plain meaning and a synonym or opposite. Every word comes from the vocabulary questions in our bank, so these are the kind of words NET-style synonym and antonym MCQs use. Learn 20 a day and you will finish the list in under a week.
Key facts
- English is 20% of NET-Engineering, Applied Sciences and Architecture, and 50% of NET-Business and Natural Sciences
- Our bank has 529 vocabulary MCQs, the largest English chapter
- Most stems ask for the word closest in meaning or opposite in meaning
Source: NUST, Subjects included in NET with weightings, checked October 2026. Bank counts from the SailToNUST question bank.
How to use this list
Read the word, cover the meaning, and say it out loud. If you cannot, mark it. Each day, learn 20 new words and re-test every marked word from earlier days. Words you get right three days running can drop off.
The third column matters as much as the meaning. NET asks "closest in meaning" and "opposite in meaning", so you need a word's partners as well as its definition. Where a word has an obvious opposite, it is given after "opp."
The meanings below are written and checked by us. A few keys in any large bank are wrong, so if a bank answer disagrees with this list, check a dictionary.
Words A to C
| Word | Meaning | Synonym, opposite |
|---|---|---|
| Abhor | to hate deeply | loathe; opp. adore |
| Abrogate | to cancel a law or agreement officially | abolish; opp. enact |
| Abscond | to leave secretly, often to escape arrest | flee |
| Acrimonious | bitter and angry, of words or a dispute | hostile; opp. amicable |
| Acumen | the ability to judge situations quickly and well | shrewdness |
| Admonish | to warn or scold firmly | rebuke; opp. commend |
| Affable | friendly and easy to talk to | genial; opp. hostile |
| Affluent | wealthy | rich; opp. destitute |
| Amass | to collect a large amount over time | gather; opp. dispense |
| Ambiguous | open to more than one meaning | unclear; opp. lucid |
| Amenable | willing to agree or be guided | cooperative; opp. obstinate |
| Amity | friendly relations | friendship; opp. hostility |
| Anomalous | different from what is normal | irregular; opp. typical |
| Apathy | lack of interest or concern | indifference; opp. enthusiasm |
| Arable | suitable for growing crops | cultivable; opp. barren |
| Arduous | needing great effort | strenuous; opp. easy |
| Assuage | to make a bad feeling less intense | mollify; opp. aggravate |
| Audacious | bold and willing to take risks | daring; opp. timid |
| Avarice | extreme greed for wealth | greed; opp. generosity |
| Baleful | threatening harm | menacing; opp. benign |
| Baroque | highly decorated and ornate | florid; opp. plain |
| Belligerent | aggressive and ready to fight | bellicose; opp. peaceable |
| Benevolent | kind and generous | charitable; opp. malevolent |
| Benign | gentle; in medicine, not harmful | kindly; opp. malignant |
| Bleak | bare and cheerless, without hope | desolate; opp. cheerful |
| Boisterous | noisy and full of energy | rowdy; opp. subdued |
| Bona fide | genuine, real | authentic; opp. fake |
| Burgeon | to grow or spread quickly | flourish; opp. dwindle |
| Cacophony | a harsh mix of sounds | din; opp. harmony |
| Cajole | to persuade by flattery | coax |
| Capacious | having a lot of space inside | roomy; opp. cramped |
| Caustic | able to burn by chemical action; of words, bitter | corrosive; opp. mild |
| Censure | strong formal criticism | reprimand; opp. approval |
| Chide | to scold | reprove; opp. praise |
| Conversant | familiar with a subject | acquainted; opp. ignorant |
Words D to I
| Word | Meaning | Synonym, opposite |
|---|---|---|
| Dauntless | fearless | intrepid; opp. timid |
| Decrepit | worn out by age or use | dilapidated; opp. sturdy |
| Destitute | extremely poor | needy; opp. affluent |
| Diffident | shy and lacking confidence | timid; opp. confident |
| Digress | to stray from the main subject | ramble |
| Dilatory | slow, causing delay | tardy; opp. prompt |
| Dowdy | dull and unfashionable | frumpy; opp. chic |
| Effrontery | shameless boldness | impudence |
| Effusive | showing feeling with great enthusiasm | gushing; opp. reticent |
| Elicit | to draw out a response or a fact | evoke; opp. suppress |
| Emaciated | very thin from illness or hunger | gaunt; opp. plump |
| Ephemeral | lasting a very short time | fleeting; opp. permanent |
| Erudite | very learned | scholarly; opp. uneducated |
| Eschew | to avoid on purpose | shun; opp. embrace |
| Exacerbate | to make a problem worse | aggravate; opp. alleviate |
| Expedient | convenient and practical, sometimes at the cost of principle | advantageous |
| Fallacy | a mistaken belief or a faulty argument | misconception; opp. truth |
| Fetid | smelling bad | foul; opp. fragrant |
| Flout | to openly disregard a rule | defy; opp. obey |
| Gaunt | very thin and bony | haggard; opp. plump |
| Gregarious | fond of company | sociable; opp. introverted |
| Hallow | to make or honour as holy | sanctify; opp. desecrate |
| Heedless | not paying attention | careless; opp. mindful |
| Illicit | not allowed by law | illegal; opp. permissible |
| Impeccable | without any fault | flawless; opp. flawed |
| Indolent | lazy | slothful; opp. industrious |
| Inordinate | far more than is reasonable | excessive; opp. moderate |
| Interminable | seeming to go on forever | endless; opp. brief |
| Intrepid | fearless | valiant; opp. cowardly |
Words J to P
| Word | Meaning | Synonym, opposite |
|---|---|---|
| Jocose | playful, joking | facetious; opp. serious |
| Kudos | praise for an achievement | acclaim |
| Lacuna | a gap or missing part | gap |
| Listless | lacking energy or interest | languid; opp. lively |
| Lugubrious | mournful | gloomy; opp. joyful |
| Magnanimous | generous, especially towards a rival | big-hearted; opp. petty |
| Mendacious | lying, untruthful | dishonest; opp. truthful |
| Meticulous | very careful about detail | thorough; opp. careless |
| Misanthrope | a person who dislikes people in general | opp. philanthropist |
| Morose | sullen and gloomy | glum; opp. cheerful |
| Motley | made of very different parts | assorted; opp. uniform |
| Nadir | the lowest point | bottom; opp. zenith |
| Novice | a beginner | neophyte; opp. expert |
| Obstinate | stubborn | headstrong; opp. amenable |
| Obstreperous | noisy and hard to control | unruly |
| Occidental | of the West | western; opp. oriental |
| Ominous | suggesting something bad will happen | threatening; opp. promising |
| Ostentatious | showy, meant to impress | flashy; opp. modest |
| Parsimonious | very unwilling to spend money | stingy; opp. generous |
| Passé | out of date | outmoded; opp. modern |
| Perturbed | anxious or unsettled | troubled; opp. calm |
| Petulant | childishly bad-tempered | sulky |
| Placid | calm, not easily upset | tranquil; opp. agitated |
| Precarious | not secure, likely to fall or fail | unstable; opp. secure |
| Prodigal | wasteful with money | profligate; opp. thrifty |
| Prodigious | remarkably large or impressive | phenomenal |
| Prudent | careful and sensible about the future | wise; opp. reckless |
| Pusillanimous | lacking courage | cowardly; opp. brave |
Words Q to Z
| Word | Meaning | Synonym, opposite |
|---|---|---|
| Quench | to satisfy thirst; to put out a fire | satiate; opp. inflame |
| Rapport | a close, friendly understanding | affinity |
| Reticent | not quick to share thoughts or feelings | reserved; opp. effusive |
| Sedulous | showing steady care and effort | diligent |
| Spurious | false, not genuine | fake; opp. authentic |
| Strident | loud and harsh | grating; opp. soft |
| Sumptuous | splendid and expensive | lavish; opp. meagre |
| Surreptitious | done secretly | stealthy; opp. open |
| Teetotaler | a person who never drinks alcohol | abstainer |
| Travesty | a ridiculous imitation | mockery |
| Trepidation | fear about what may happen | anxiety; opp. composure |
| Vacillate | to keep changing your mind | waver |
| Venerable | respected because of age or character | esteemed |
| Venial | of a fault, minor and forgivable | pardonable; opp. grave |
| Vexed | annoyed | irritated; opp. pleased |
| Vivacious | lively and spirited | animated; opp. dull |
| Wane | to decrease gradually | diminish; opp. wax |
| Zealot | a fanatical supporter of a cause | fanatic; opp. moderate |
Confusable pairs
Some vocabulary questions in our bank hinge on two words that look alike. These four come up there:
| Pair | Difference |
|---|---|
| Discreet, discrete | Discreet is tactful and careful. Discrete is separate and distinct. |
| Canvass, canvas | Canvass is to seek votes or opinions. Canvas is heavy cloth. |
| Flout, flaunt | Flout is to disregard a rule. Flaunt is to show off. |
| Prodigal, prodigy | Prodigal is wasteful. A prodigy is a young person with exceptional talent. |
For the other English question types, and for the bridge-sentence method on analogies, read the NET English guide. To see where vocabulary fits in a full study plan, the three-month plan gives English a daily slot.
FAQ
How many vocabulary words do I need for NET?
There is no fixed list. Start with the 110 here, then work through the 529 vocabulary MCQs in our bank. Twenty new words a day for twelve weeks covers well over a thousand.
Where do NET vocabulary words come from?
NUST does not publish a word list. The words above come from synonym and antonym MCQs in our bank, which follow the format NET uses.
What is the best way to learn NET vocabulary?
Learn each word with one synonym and one opposite, test yourself with the meaning covered, and re-test missed words daily. Then drill MCQs so you meet the words in the test format.
