“Good morning everyone,
Today, I’m going to introduce you to a few words — not just any words, but the kind that
make you say:
‘Wait… that’s a real word?’
Let’s dive into:
‘Words You Didn’t Know You Could Use’ — featuring the one and only, Shashi
Tharoor’s Dictionary!”
As Dr. Shashi Tharoor famously said:
“I never use big words to impress. I use them because they are the right words.”
This is the mindset we should all have — use language not to confuse, but to express
ourselves better and smarter.
Let’s take a moment to know the man behind this ‘verbal fireworks’.
Dr. Shashi Tharoor is one of India’s most admired public figures.
He’s a Member of Parliament, a former UN diplomat, an award-winning author, and
above all — a lover of language.
Born in London in 1956, he studied at St. Stephen’s College, Delhi, and then earned his PhD
from Tufts University, USA — at just 22 years old! He later served in the United Nations
for nearly 30 years.
But beyond politics and diplomacy, what makes him stand out is the way he uses English —
boldly, unapologetically, and beautifully.
Let’s begin with our first word:
Disquisition — It means a detailed discussion or essay.
📘 “She gave a brilliant disquisition on climate change.”
Perfect for when you want to sound smart in English class!
Slide 5: Punctilious
🎙️
Next up is Punctilious — someone who is extremely careful about rules and details.
📘 “She’s so punctilious — never late, never sloppy.”
We all know at least one friend like that
Here’s a beautiful word: Ineffable — when something is too amazing to be described in
words.
📘 “The feeling of winning first place was ineffable!”
Some emotions go beyond vocabulary… or so we thought.
Plenipotentiary — this word means someone with full power or authority.
📘 “My mom is the plenipotentiary of the house — no questions asked!”
Quotidian — a poetic way of saying ‘everyday’ or ‘ordinary’.
📘 “Even the most quotidian things can be beautiful.”
A reminder that beauty exists in the little things.
Slide 9: Floccinaucinihilipilification
[Pause for effect]
Yes, it’s a real word.
Floccinaucinihilipilification — it means the act of deciding something is worthless.
📘 “Let’s not floccinaucinihilipilificate our efforts. We did great!”
Try saying that five times fast!
Rodomontade — fancy word for bragging too much.
📘 “His speech was pure rodomontade — all talk, no truth.”
We all know someone who does this daily.
Cacophony — a harsh mix of sounds.
📘 “The class turned into a cacophony during break.”
Basically… every recess ever.
Trenchant — sharp, insightful, clear in meaning.
📘 “Her trenchant analysis won the debate.”
Be trenchant — not just loud.
Ineptitude — lack of skill or ability.
📘 “My cooking skills are pure ineptitude — I even managed to burn tea!”
Relatable, right?
Encomium — a formal expression of praise.
📘 “He received a heartfelt encomium at the farewell ceremony.”
Perfect for award ceremonies and heartfelt speeches.
Invective — harsh or abusive language.
📘 “Social media often turns into a platform for baseless invective.”
Let’s use words to build, not break.
And with that, thank you so much for being such a wonderful audience.
Let’s not just use words — let’s respect them, enjoy them, and most importantly, choose
them wisely.
This was:
“Words You Didn’t Know You Could Use” —
Presented by Deepanshi Mishra, Class 11 A.
Thank you!
