This word means "having extremely unfortunate or dire consequences."
fateful
"All this ___ nearly made me late, and I raced out the door, my half-eaten breakfast still on the table." Context suggests this means playful teasing talk.
banter
A synonym for "reprimand" — to criticise or scold someone.
censure / rebuke / scold
An antonym for "fateful" — meaning an event with no significant or negative consequences.
insignificant / trivial / inconsequential
"My father always greeted guests warmly. His ___ made everyone feel at home."
hospitality
This word means "someone opposed to violence as a means of settling disputes."
pacifist
"Haji Baba Road was a jumble of brightly colored ___, women in flowing robes, men on scooters, honking and zigzagging through the traffic."
rickshaw
A synonym for "devout" — deeply committed to religious belief.
pious / faithful / religious
An antonym for "illiterate."
literate / educated / learned
"My father believed that fighting never solved anything. As a true ___, he turned to words, not weapons."
pacifist
This word means "the act of depriving something of its sacred character."
blasphemy
My mother and the women would gather on our ___ at the back of the house and cook and laugh and talk." Context suggests this is an outdoor area attached to a house.
veranda
A synonym for "melancholy" — a feeling of sadness or gloom.
sorrowful / wistful / dejected
An antonym for "pacifist" — someone who believes in using force or war.
warmonger / aggressor / militant
"The mufti told my father that running a school for girls was ___. He believed women should stay in purdah."
blasphemy
This word means "carve, cut, or etch into a material or surface."
inscribe
"It is not at all uncommon for women in my country to be ___, but to see my mother struggle to read the prices in the bazaar was an unspoken sadness."
illiterate
A synonym for "hospitality" — welcoming and generous treatment of guests.
generosity / warmth / welcome
An antonym for "devout" — not religious or spiritually committed.
irreligious / secular / faithless
"The cleric said my father was not a ___ man, but anyone who saw the Qurans in our home would think differently."
pious
This word means "susceptible to criticism, persuasion, or temptation."
vulnerable
"The whole country was in shock for a long time after the earthquake. We were ___. Which made it that much easier for someone with bad intentions to use a nation's fear."
vulnerable
A synonym for "blasphemy" — showing disrespect for something considered sacred.
sacrilege / desecration / profanity
An antonym for "melancholy."
cheerful / joyful / elated
"The road was crowded with colourful ___, scooters, and people heading to market."
rickshaws