Vocabulary for Bank Exams: Letter “H” with Meanings & Examples



Building a strong vocabulary is essential for cracking bank exams, SSC, and other competitive tests. Here are 40 important vocabulary words starting with the letter “H”, along with their meanings and examples.


Vocabulary List Starting with “H” (40)
1. Haphazard

Meaning: Random; without planning
Example: A haphazard study plan reduces efficiency.

2. Hapless

Meaning: Unlucky
Example: The hapless man lost his luggage again.

3. Harass

Meaning: To trouble repeatedly
Example: Employees should not be harassed at the workplace.

4. Harmonious

Meaning: Peaceful; well-coordinated
Example: The team worked in a harmonious manner.

5. Hasty

Meaning: Done too quickly
Example: Avoid making hasty decisions in exams.

6. Heed

Meaning: Pay attention to
Example: Students must heed the invigilator’s instructions.

7. Heinous

Meaning: Extremely bad
Example: It was a heinous crime.

8. Herald

Meaning: To signal the beginning of something
Example: The new policy heralds major reforms.

9. Hesitant

Meaning: Slow to act; unsure
Example: He was hesitant to answer the question.

10. Hinder

Meaning: To obstruct or delay
Example: Internet issues hindered the online test.

11. Hoax

Meaning: A false story intended to deceive
Example: The viral message turned out to be a hoax.

12. Homogeneous

Meaning: Of the same kind
Example: The sample group was homogeneous in age.

13. Hostile

Meaning: Unfriendly; aggressive
Example: The crowd became hostile during the protest.

14. Humane

Meaning: Kind and compassionate
Example: Animal shelters promote humane treatment of pets.

15. Humble

Meaning: Modest
Example: Despite his success, he remained humble.

16. Humiliate

Meaning: Make someone feel ashamed
Example: No student should be humiliated publicly.

17. Hypocrisy

Meaning: Pretending to have virtues one doesn't
Example: People criticised the leader for hypocrisy.

18. Hyperbole

Meaning: Exaggeration
Example: Saying “I waited forever” is a hyperbole.

19. Hypothetical

Meaning: Based on assumption
Example: They discussed a hypothetical situation.

20. Hinderance

Meaning: Something that causes delay
Example: Lack of resources is a major hindrance.

21. Herald

Meaning: To announce or signal
Example: Monsoon clouds herald the arrival of rain.

22. Hunch

Meaning: A guess or gut feeling
Example: She had a hunch the question would come.

23. Hurtle

Meaning: Move fast and uncontrollably
Example: The car hurtled down the slope.

24. Hierarchy

Meaning: A system of ranking
Example: Banks follow a strict hierarchy of roles.

25. Hail

Meaning: Praise; welcome
Example: The officer was hailed as a hero.

26. Hardy

Meaning: Strong; able to survive difficult conditions
Example: A hardy plant thrives in any climate.

27. Harness

Meaning: Use effectively
Example: India must harness its demographic dividend.

28. Harrowing

Meaning: Extremely distressing
Example: The survivors shared harrowing experiences.

29. Hefty

Meaning: Large and heavy
Example: He paid a hefty fine for the violation.

30. Heralded

Meaning: Announced; predicted
Example: The victory was heralded as a turning point.

31. Hereditary

Meaning: Passed from parents to children
Example: Some diseases are hereditary.

32. Hoard

Meaning: Collect and keep excessively
Example: People began to hoard essentials during lockdown.

33. Hospitable

Meaning: Friendly and welcoming
Example: The staff were very hospitable.

34. Hover

Meaning: Stay in one place in the air
Example: The helicopter hovered above the ground.

35. Humdrum

Meaning: Boring; monotonous
Example: He wanted to escape his humdrum routine.

36. Hybrid

Meaning: Mixed or combined form
Example: Many offices prefer a hybrid work model.

37. Hitherto

Meaning: Until now
Example: The idea was hitherto unknown to researchers.

38. Heave

Meaning: Lift or pull with effort
Example: They heaved the box onto the truck.

39. Hinder

Meaning: To create obstacles
Example: Heavy rain can hinder traffic.

40. Hymn

Meaning: A religious song
Example: Devotees sang a hymn in the temple.