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