Vocabulary

Do away with dull openings like “One day ”. Instead try one of these for an early morning.

1. The radiant rays of the morning sun filtered through the canopy of leaves.

2. The early morning sun shone upon his weather-beaten face. There was a hive of activity in the block as housewives went about their morning errands.

3. The bright morning sun brought light and life to the city/ village.

4. The early morning sun peeped through/ between the mountains/ hills as it left the horizon.

5. The brilliant rays of the morning sun shone right through the curtains.

6. The shimmering blue sea was like myriads of diamonds as the morning sun shone/ played on it.

7. The sky was a delightful expanse of blue, dotted with magnolia white clouds.

8. The sky was a delightful expanse of azure blue. The clouds had no place in the morning sun where the majestic sun reigned supreme.

9. The pearly/ white light of pre-dawn was peeping through the grey clouds. It was a sunrise to behold as the orange hues merged with the pale pink shades.

10. The warm rays of the morning sun caressed the chubby cheeks of the cheerful children as the morning breeze tossed their raven-black hair.

11. The warm beams of the morning sun filtered through the heavily-barred window of the cold prison cell to greet the occupant who stood up to rush into their embrace.

12. Come weal or woe, it was the start of another new day.

Do away with dull openings like “One afternoon ”. Instead try one of these for noon.

1. The scorching/ merciless sun at noon beat upon the backs of the pedestrians as they braved the heat to get to a cool spot to eat their midday meal.

2. The sun at noon was high in the sky, casting my shrunken shadow on the hard ground.

3. The midday sun beat upon the weather-beaten face and time-ravaged body of the poor farmer.

4. The mind-numbing heat of the afternoon sun made its lazy way into the drowsy, sleep-filled atmosphere of the classroom. I struggled to keep my mind awake and not succumb to the hypnotic, sleep-inducing tones of my history teacher.

5. The vicious sun shone relentlessly on its victims below, scorching both the earth and the exposed backs of the labourers.

Do away with dull openings like “One evening/ night ”. Instead try one of these for evenings and nights.

1. The evening sun beckoned me home after a brain-storming session in school/ at work.

2. The splendid sunset had us spellbound as we watching the sinking of the huge ball of fire amidst the splashes of warm hues of red, orange and yellow. Such was the splendour and grandeur of the sunset.

3. Glorious Sun dimmed his light to let shy Lady Moon step out to take his place. His golden robe faded into the distance to make way for her glowing gown.

4. The moon was high in the sky, shrouded by misty grey clouds.

5. Beneath the silvery moon, the distant owl hooted hauntingly. The silhouettes of the branches resembled ghostly limbs.

6. The ominous moon seemed to be in cahoots with the nocturnal creatures.

7. The moon lost its place in the night sky as the blanket of darkness descended on the town.

8. Darkness had earlier descended like a big blanket, as though the stage was being set after the curtains closed. The country was swathed in utter darkness save for the twinkling of a few stars scattered in the wide expanse of the night sky.

9. The moon had no place in the night sky which was studded with stars.

10. Lady Moon dimmed her light in much the same way as Florence Nightingale did, with the assurance that she would pass that way again. How comforting the thought !

11. The swirling wind picked up some loose dirt and scattered it all over the stone pavement and my feet. I quickened my pace and wrapped my hands around my shoulders. It was nearing midnight.

Instead of the so-boring word “said”, try these words as substitutes in your writing.

Added	Disapproved	Interrupted	Questioned
Admitted	Discussed	Jeered	Quoted
Admonished	Echoed	Lamented	Rebuked
Agreed	Elaborated	Lied	Reported
Announced	Enthused	Mentioned	Reprimanded
Apologized	Exclaimed	Moaned	Requested
Argued	Explained	Mocked	Responded
Barked	Expressed	Mumbled	Retorted
Bawled	Greeted	Mused	Scoffed
Bellowed	Grizzled	Muttered	Shrieked
Blared	Groaned	Narrated	Sighed
Blurted	Groused	Noted	Snapped
Boasted	Growled	Objected	Sneered
Bristled	Grunted	Observed	Snorted
Cackled	Guessed	Offered	Stammered
Cajoled	Hinted	Opined	Stated
Cautioned	Hissed	Ordered	Surmised
Chided	Hollered	Panted	Suggested
Chuckled	Hooted	Persuaded	Teased
Complained	Howled	Pleaded	Testified
Concluded	Informed	Proclaimed	Told
Declared	Inquired	Professed	Urged
Deduced	Insinuated	Promised	Uttered
Demanded	Insisted	Protested	Volleyed
Denied	Instructed	Purred	Warned
Whimpered	Whispered	Wished	Wondered
Yelled	Yelped	Confessed	entreated

No.	Words & Phrases Describing Sad Feelings & Actions
1.	Rubbed her eyes till they became red
2.	Said in between her sobs
3.	Another sob escaped her throat
4.	She could not keep her tears back
5.	Tears streamed/ rolled down her cheeks
6.	Her heart was filled with sadness/ sorrow/ despair
7.	he closed his eyes and dwelled in disappointment
8.	Said in a sad and pitiful tone
9.	She could no longer control her own emotions
10.	Her heart felt as if a sharp knife had slashed it into pieces
11.	I took one look at her tear-streaked face and knew at once something was terribly wrong
12.	She was on the verge of tears/ on the verge of breaking down soon
13.	a look of pain seared across his wrinkled face as a lone tear trickled down his cheeks
14.	He cried until his voice was hoarse
15.	Her cheerful mood changed when she received the bad news
16.	With a heavy heart, he disclosed the bad news to the family
17.	I closed my eyes and prayed hard for a miracle to happen
18.	Her heart went out to the pitiful boy
19.	After the tragedy, he decided to face up to reality and dragged himself to work
20.	Cold sweat formed on her forehead
21.	tears welled up in his soft brown eyes, forming a blanket over them
22.	Tears welled up in her eyes as she related how the tragedy happened

23.	no words could describe the hurt and anguish that had been inflicted upon him
24.	his watery blue eyes were puffy and bloodshot from previous nights of crying himself to sleep
25.	blinked away the tears that stung my eyes
26.	broke down and cried, releasing the torrents of tears that I had tried so much to keep back
27.	a mist of tears blurred my eyes
28.	heart welled up like a tight balloon with guilt and sorrow
29.	buried his face in his hands, and soft sobbing sounds began to emerge from him
30.	deep pools of emerald eyes, usually dancing with life and vivacity now lay dull and empty as she gazed off at the night sky
31.	I could hold back no longer, the dam that kept my tears back sprang a leak
32.	tears scalded my eyelids, so much that blinking became an agony

No.	Words & Phrases Describing Happy Feelings & Actions
1.	Her face was beaming with delight
2.	She has a sunny smile across her face
3.	He was as happy as a lark
4.	No words could describe his happiness/ joy
5.	Her happiness/ elation knew no bounds
6.	She was crying tears of happiness/ joy
7.	He was grinning from ear to ear
8.	She chorused as she danced around the room
9.	On hearing the good news, everyone crowded around him to offer their congratulations
10.	He felt as if a heavy load had been lifted off his back
11.	Then reality set in and he gave an enormous whoop of joy
12.	A sense of exhilaration overcame him as he pranced about exclaiming wildly
13.	He made no effort to hide his joy
14.	The ecstatic boy was a happy sight to behold, with his sparkling eyes and bubbly enthusiasm
15.	I was so jubilant that I could not stay still, but kept prancing about in the room
16.	Her eyes glittered with joyful expectation as she opened the gift
17.	experiencing sensations of pleasure

No.	Words & Phrases Describing Fear, Despair & Worry
1.	worry wrapped itself around him like a heavy blanket
2.	icy hand clutching his heart
3.	tried to swallow the cries that sought to emerge from his throbbing throat
4.	a stab of fear pierced through his body
5.	stood immobile as her body was seized by fear
6.	eyes dilated in terror
7.	fear gripped his heart
8.	a monstrous terror seized him and his pulse pulsated, pumping ice-cold dread into every capillary of his body
9.	streams of perspiration outlined his trembling jaw
10.	intense and immense fear gripped me as terrible thoughts raced through my mind
11.	fear coursed through my veins
12.	muscles shivered periodically with beads of perspiration trickling down the nape of her neck
13.	fear sizzled and spread around my body like a powerful potion
14.	my heart pounded loudly, in fact, it sounded like a thousand drummers in unison, starting a funeral march
15.	terror was mounting rapidly within me
16.	a mixture of anxiety and terror
17.	pale and shaken
18.	her voice trembled with the pain of vexation and chagrin
19.	his face began to take on the pallor of nausea
20.	his eyebrows were deeply knit and his mouth slightly ajar in his agony
21.	She held her breath in trepidation
22.	She sank into her chair in despair
23.	Her knees were shaking slightly and her fingers were trembling uncontrollably
24.	Beads of perspiration formed on his forehead

No.	Words & Phrases Describing Anger
1.	mouth dropped open in soundless shock
2.	veins protruding and his heart palpitating very fast
3.	angry words fell from his quivering lips
4.	vexed with him
5.	the fire in him raged, spreading from his heart all the way down to his limbs
6.	eyes flashed scarlet and his face was apoplectic with fury and there was a bright redness on the tips of his ears
7.	thoughts of revenge blazed through his mind
8.	narrowing his eyes into slits
9.	snarled through gritted teeth
10.	steam escaped from my nostrils, sending a tinge of anger knotting in the pit of my stomach
11.	vehement argument
12.	quivered with fury
13.	while the muscles on her body were tensed for an onslaught of blows
14.	they stared up at her, in forceful testimony
15.	sharpness in her voice
16.	her heart swelled in anger
17.	She muttered something rude under her breath

No.	Words & Phrases Describing Fatigue
1.	As he felt fatigue set into his body, he closed his weary eyes, releasing himself to a deep sleep that a waited him
2.	was sweating and panting apparently from having just come in from the hot sun, his forehead beaded with perspiration

No.	Words & Phrases Describing Embarrassment
1.	went a deep shade of pink/ red
2.	Her relief was mingled with embarrassment

No.	Words & Phrases Describing Malice, Hatred & Spite
1.	yelled with spiteful glee
2.	watched with mirthful malice
3.	her pinched face took an expression of concentrated loathing as her hand shot out to pick up the plate and bring it down resoundingly
4.	with tight smiles of vindictive triumph
5.	looked at him with predatory intensity
6.	watching him with the lust of vengeance

No.	Words & Phrases Describing Other Actions
1.	On hearing the fire alarm, the pupils dashed out like a swarm of bees
2.	He thrust out his hand and demanded for protection money
3.	He plucked up courage and determination
4.	Without hesitation, he confessed to being the mastermind of the whole scheme
5.	On hearing that he was responding to the treatment, everyone heaved a sigh of relief
6.	He was a wreck of a man, a skeleton, thin and dry as a stick
7.	Minutes turned into hours/ Minutes passed quickly
8.	At this juncture/ At this point in time/ At this moment
9.	Her high-heeled shoes could be heard from a distance
10.	The teacher’s voice boomed across the room
11.	the aroma invaded his nostrils and made him salivate with desire
12.	I was left incredulous that so audacious an act had deserved so slight a punishment
13.	threads of blood spat over his knee
14.	The teacher shoved the paper into the face of the lazy pupil
15.	He was staring into the blank space, building castles in the air as usual
16.	He rattled on and on, unaware of the boredom of the people around him
17.	At the ring of the dismissal bell, the pupils hurriedly shoved their books into their bags and bolted out of the classroom
18.	His hair was unkempt, his face unshaven and he looked as if he had not slept for days
19.	Silence filled the room as no one knew the answer to the question posed by the teacher. Then the silence was broken by Tom
20.	There was concern in her voice
21.	The peace of the morning was spoilt by the noisy traffic
22.	She was ready to go in a jiffy
23.	He paced up and down the corridor while waiting for his wife to deliver their first-born
24.	All her efforts to make friends with the new pupil went down the drain

25.	The rays of the afternoon sun streaked into the classroom/ The rays of the morning sun streaked into my bedroom
26.	No one dared to defy the principal’s orders
27.	Her eyebrows were narrowed in concentration and her lips were pressed together as she was busy pondering over the knotty problem
28.	He glanced at his watch and realised that it was already late
29.	She beckoned me over mysteriously
30.	The gang materialised in front of her
31.	Her heavy eyelids weighed down heavily on her and she struggled to keep them open
32.	After coming home from school, I decided to take forty winks before starting on my homework