Ozymandias by Percy Bysshe Shelley – Paraphrasing, Central Idea, Summary Poetic devices, Questions, MCQs

The Poem "Ozymandias" by Percy Bysshe Shelley

shows the pride of a powerful king whose great empire has been destroyed by time. A traveller describes a broken statue in the desert with words that once boasted of power and glory. The poem teaches that human pride, power, and achievements are temporary, while time and nature are everlasting.

1. Original Readings:

I met a traveller from an antique land,

Who said—“Two vast and trunkless legs of stone

Stand in the desert. . . . Near them, on the sand,

Half sunk a shattered visage lies, whose frown,

And wrinkled lip, and sneer of cold command,

Tell that its sculptor well those passions read

Which yet survive, stamped on these lifeless things,

The hand that mocked them, and the heart that fed;

And on the pedestal, these words appear:

My name is Ozymandias, King of Kings;

Look on my Works, ye Mighty, and despair!

Nothing beside remains. Round the decay

Of that colossal Wreck, boundless and bare

The lone and level sands stretch far away.

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2. Paraphrasing of the poem Ozymandias by Percy Bysshe Shelley Line by line:

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Stanza 1

I met a traveller from an antique land,

→ The poet says that he met a traveller who had come from a very old and ancient land.

Who said—“Two vast and trunkless legs of stone

→ He reports that traveller described seeing two huge stone legs standing alone without the upper part of the body.

Stand in the desert. . . . Near them, on the sand,

→ He explains that these legs were standing in the middle of the desert, and nearby, on the sand—

Half sunk a shattered visage lies, whose frown,

→ He says that a broken face of the statue lay half-buried in the sand, showing a frown.

And wrinkled lip, and sneer of cold command,

→ He describes that the face had wrinkled lips and a proud, cruel expression, revealing the ruler’s harsh and commanding nature.

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Stanza 2

Tell that its sculptor well those passions read

→ The poet explains that the sculptor clearly understood the king’s emotions—his pride, arrogance, and cruelty—and expressed them in the statue.

Which yet survive, stamped on these lifeless things,

→ He adds that even though the statue is lifeless and broken, the ruler’s personality and emotions still remain visible on the stone.

The hand that mocked them, and the heart that fed;

→ He points out further that the sculptor both imitated the king’s arrogance and revealed the inner feelings that motivated him.

And on the pedestal, these words appear:

→ He notes that an inscription is written on the pedestal of the statue.

My name is Ozymandias, King of Kings;

→ He explains that the inscription proudly declares the ruler’s name as Ozymandias, calling himself the greatest of all kings.

Look on my Works, ye Mighty, and despair!

→ The poet describes that Ozymandias challenges powerful people to look at his achievements and feel hopeless in comparison.

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Stanza 3

Nothing beside remains. Round the decay

→ The poet points out that nothing else of Ozymandias’s empire or works remains now.

Of that colossal Wreck, boundless and bare

→ He explains that around the ruined statue—once a symbol of greatness—there is only destruction.

The lone and level sands stretch far away.

→ The poet concludes that only endless, flat desert surrounds the ruined statue, emphasizing that time eventually destroys all human pride and power.

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3. Stanza-wise paraphrasing of the poem Ozymandias by Percy Bysshe Shelley in a paragraph:

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Stanza 1

I met a traveller from an antique land,

Who said—“Two vast and trunkless legs of stone

Stand in the desert. . . . Near them, on the sand,

Half sunk a shattered visage lies, whose frown,

And wrinkled lip, and sneer of cold command,

In this stanza the poet describes how he met a traveller from an ancient land who told him about a ruined statue standing in the desert. The traveller saw two massive stone legs without a body, and nearby, on the sand, lay a broken face half-buried. The poet explains that the face showed a frown, wrinkled lips, and a proud, cruel expression, reflecting the ruler’s harsh and commanding nature. These details reveal that the sculptor had captured the king’s character perfectly, showing both his arrogance and authority, even though the statue was now in ruins.

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Stanza 2

Tell that its sculptor well those passions read

Which yet survive, stamped on these lifeless things,

The hand that mocked them, and the heart that fed;

And on the pedestal, these words appear:

My name is Ozymandias, King of Kings;

Look on my Works, ye Mighty, and despair!

In this stanza, the poet explains that the sculptor who made the statue understood Ozymandias’s emotions—his pride, arrogance, and cruelty—and captured them perfectly in the lifeless stone. Even though the statue is broken, the king’s personality still survives in the expression on the face. The poet notes that the sculptor both imitated the king’s arrogance and revealed the inner feelings that motivated him. On the pedestal, an inscription boldly declares the ruler’s name as Ozymandias, “King of Kings,” and challenges all powerful people to look at his great works and feel despair. This shows the king’s immense pride and belief in the permanence of his achievements, even though the statue itself is now in ruins.

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Stanza 3

Nothing beside remains. Round the decay

Of that colossal Wreck, boundless and bare

The lone and level sands stretch far away.

In this stanza, the poet highlights the irony that nothing of Ozymandias’s mighty works remains today. Around the broken statue lies a vast, empty wasteland, showing the complete decay of what was once powerful and grand. The poet describes the enormous ruins as abandoned and lifeless, surrounded by endless, flat desert that stretches far away. This emphasizes the idea that time destroys all human pride, power, and achievements, leaving only nature to endure.

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4. Central Ideas of the poem Ozymandias by Percy Bysshe Shelley:

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1. The central idea of “Ozymandias” by Percy Bysshe Shelley is that human pride, power, and worldly achievements are temporary and are ultimately destroyed by time. The poet presents the story of a traveller who sees the broken remains of a statue of a once-mighty king lying in a lonely desert. The shattered legs and ruined face show the complete downfall of Ozymandias’s empire. The proud and cruel expression on the statue reflects the king’s arrogance and desire for absolute power. The inscription on the pedestal proudly declares him the “King of Kings” and challenges other rulers to look at his great works and despair. However, the poet ironically points out that nothing of those works survives. The vast, empty desert surrounding the ruins highlights the passage of time and decay. The poem contrasts past glory with present destruction. Through this contrast, Shelley conveys that no ruler or civilization can escape the power of time and nature, which ultimately outlast all human pride and ambition.

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کوئی بھی حکمران یا تہذیب وقت اور فطرت کی طاقت سے نہیں بچ سکتی، جو بالآخر تمام انسانی غرور اور خواہشات کو ختم کر دیتی ہے۔

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2. The central idea of “Ozymandias” by Percy Bysshe Shelley is that human pride, power, and achievements are temporary and cannot last forever. The poem describes the ruined statue of a once-powerful king lying abandoned in a vast desert. The broken legs and shattered face show how time has destroyed his greatness. The proud expression on the statue reveals the king’s cruel and arrogant nature. The inscription on the pedestal boldly calls him the “King of Kings” and boasts of his mighty works. However, the poet ironically shows that nothing of those works remains. The endless, empty sands surrounding the statue emphasize the passage of time. The poem highlights the contrast between past glory and present decay. Through this, Shelley teaches that time and nature are more powerful than any human ruler.

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3. The central idea of “Ozymandias” by Percy Bysshe Shelley is that human pride, power, and worldly achievements are temporary and are eventually destroyed by time. The poem describes the broken remains of a once-great king’s statue lying in a vast desert. Although the inscription on the pedestal proudly calls Ozymandias the “King of Kings” and boasts of his mighty works, nothing of his empire survives. The contrast between the arrogant words on the statue and the surrounding emptiness highlights the irony of human ambition. Through this, the poet teaches that no ruler, power, or civilization can escape the effects of time and nature, and that true permanence belongs only to time itself.

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5. Summary of the poem Ozymandias by Percy Bysshe Shelley:

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1. The poem “Ozymandias” by Percy Bysshe Shelley emphasizes the temporary nature of human power, pride, and achievements. The poet narrates the story of a traveller who describes seeing the ruined statue of a once-mighty king in the middle of a vast desert. Only two enormous stone legs and a shattered face remain, half-buried in the sand, revealing the complete destruction of Ozymandias’s empire. The frown, wrinkled lips, and sneer of the face show the king’s arrogance, cruelty, and desire for absolute control, which the sculptor captured perfectly in the lifeless stone. On the pedestal, an inscription boldly declares him the “King of Kings” and challenges all powerful rulers to look at his great works and despair. However, the poet ironically points out that nothing of those works survives today. The statue stands alone amidst the endless, empty sands, highlighting the passage of time and the impermanence of human glory. Through this vivid contrast between past pride and present ruin, Shelley conveys that no ruler, empire, or human achievement can withstand the forces of time and nature, which outlast all human ambition and power.

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2. The poem “Ozymandias” by Percy Bysshe Shelley is about the temporary nature of human power and pride. The poet narrates the story of a traveller who sees the broken remains of a statue in a desert. Only two huge stone legs and a shattered face lie in the sand, showing the destruction of a once-great king. The proud and cruel expression on the face reveals Ozymandias’s arrogant and commanding nature, which the sculptor skilfully captured in stone. The inscription on the pedestal proudly declares him the “King of Kings” and challenges mighty rulers to look at his great works and despair. However, the poet ironically shows that nothing of those works remains. The statue is surrounded by vast, empty sands, emphasizing the passage of time. The poem highlights the contrast between past glory and present decay and teaches that time and nature are more powerful than any human ruler or empire.

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6. Poetic Devices (figures of speech) Used in the Poem poem Ozymandias by Percy Bysshe Shelley:

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1. Irony: The poem is full of situational irony. Ozymandias boasts of his greatness and challenges others to “look at my works, ye Mighty, and despair,” yet all that remains is a ruined statue in an empty desert.

Example: “Nothing beside remains.”

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2. Metaphor: The statue is a metaphor for human ambition and arrogance, showing that no ruler or empire lasts forever.

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3. Symbolism:

• The ruined statue symbolizes the impermanence of human power and pride.
• The desert represents the enduring force of time and nature.

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4. Contrast:

Shelley contrasts the king’s proud inscription with the ruined state of his statue, emphasizing the fleeting nature of power.

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5. Imagery:

Shelley uses vivid visual descriptions to help readers picture the statue and the desert.

Example: “Two vast and trunkless legs of stone…Half sunk, a shattered visage lies.”

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6. Personification: The poet gives human traits to the statue to reflect the king’s personality.

Example: The face has a “sneer of cold command,” expressing Ozymandias’s arrogance.

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7. Alliteration: Repetition of consonant sounds adds rhythm and emphasis.

Example: “boundless and bare,” “lone and level sands.”

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8. Allusion: The poem indirectly alludes to historical rulers and empires, reminding readers of the inevitable decline of human authority.

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9. Enjambment: The continuation of sentences across lines creates a natural flow and emphasizes the traveller’s narration.

Example: The description of the statue flows across several lines without pause.

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7. Short-Answer Questions of the poem Ozymandias by Percy Bysshe Shelley:

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Q1. Who is the poet of Ozymandias?

Ans: Percy Bysshe Shelley.

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Q2. What is the poem Ozymandias about?

Ans: The poem is about the impermanence of human power, pride, and achievements, shown through the ruined statue of a once-great king.

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Q3. Who does the traveller describe in the poem?

Ans: The traveller describes the broken statue of Ozymandias, a powerful ancient king.

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Q4. What remains of Ozymandias’s statue?

Ans: Only two huge stone legs and a shattered, half-buried face remain.

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Q5. What does the face of the statue reveal?

Ans: It reveals the king’s arrogance, cruelty, and proud, commanding nature.

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Q6. What is written on the pedestal of the statue?

Ans: “My name is Ozymandias, King of Kings; Look on my Works, ye Mighty, and despair!”

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Q7. What is ironic in the poem?

Ans: Although Ozymandias boasts of his greatness, nothing of his works survives; only ruins remain.

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Q8. What does the desert symbolize?

Ans: The desert symbolizes the power of time and nature, which outlast all human achievements.

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Q9. What is the central idea of the poem?

Ans: Human pride and achievements are temporary, while time and nature are eternal.

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Q10. Name two poetic devices used in the poem.

Ans: Irony and imagery.

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8. Long-Answer Questions of the poem Ozymandias by Percy Bysshe Shelley:

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Q1. Explain the central theme of the poem Ozymandias.

Ans: The central theme of Ozymandias is the temporary nature of human power, pride, and achievements. The poem describes a ruined statue of a once-powerful king lying in a desert. Although the king boasted of his greatness and called himself “King of Kings,” nothing of his empire survives. The broken statue and the surrounding empty desert symbolize that time and nature are stronger than any human ruler, and all human glory eventually fades away. Shelley teaches that pride and ambition are meaningless in the face of time.

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Q2. Describe the character of Ozymandias as revealed in the poem.

Ans: Ozymandias is portrayed as a proud, arrogant, and cruel ruler. His face on the shattered statue shows a frown, wrinkled lips, and a sneer of cold command, reflecting his commanding and harsh nature. The inscription on the pedestal calls him the “King of Kings” and challenges others to look at his works and despair, showing his extreme pride. However, the ruined statue and empty desert highlight the irony of his arrogance, revealing that even the greatest rulers cannot escape the power of time.

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Q3. Discuss the role of the sculptor in the poem Ozymandias.

Ans: The sculptor plays an important role in revealing Ozymandias’s personality. According to the traveller, the sculptor “well those passions read” and skillfully captured the king’s pride, arrogance, and cruelty in the stone. Even though the statue is now lifeless and broken, the sculptor’s work preserves the king’s character for generations. The sculptor’s skill contrasts with the ultimate destruction of the king’s empire, highlighting the irony that human achievements are temporary.

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Q4. How does Shelley use irony in Ozymandias?

Ans: Irony is a major poetic device in the poem. Ozymandias proudly boasts of his greatness on the pedestal, daring others to look at his works and despair. Yet, ironically, nothing of his empire survives—only a ruined statue in a vast desert remains. This contrast between the king’s proud words and the reality of destruction emphasizes the ephemeral nature of human power and ambition.

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Q5. Describe the imagery used in the poem.

Ans: Shelley uses vivid visual imagery to create a mental picture of the ruined statue and the desert. The “two vast and trunkless legs of stone” and the “shattered visage” half-buried in sand help readers imagine the ruins. Words like “sneer of cold command,” “wrinkled lip,” and “boundless and bare” enhance the visual effect. This imagery emphasizes both the king’s arrogance and the desolation surrounding the statue, reinforcing the poem’s theme of the impermanence of human achievements.

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Q6. What message does Shelley convey through the poem?

Ans: Shelley conveys that human pride, power, and achievements are temporary. No matter how great a ruler or empire may seem, time and nature eventually destroy them. The ruined statue of Ozymandias in the vast desert symbolizes this truth. Through this poem, Shelley teaches that all human glory is fleeting, and ambition and arrogance are meaningless in the long run.

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Q7. Explain the symbolism of the desert in Ozymandias.

Ans: The desert in the poem symbolizes time, nature, and the impermanence of human creations. The endless, empty sands surround the ruined statue, emphasizing that nature outlasts human power. The desert’s vastness and barrenness highlight the contrast between the king’s past glory and the present decay, reinforcing the poem’s central idea that all human pride and achievement are temporary.

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9. MCQs of the poem Ozymandias by Percy Bysshe Shelley:

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Q1. Who wrote the poem Ozymandias?
A) William Wordsworth
B) Percy Bysshe Shelley
C) Robert Frost
D) John Keats
Ans: B) Percy Bysshe Shelley

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Q2. What remains of Ozymandias’s statue in the desert?
A) The entire statue
B) Only the head
C) Two stone legs and a shattered face
D) A full sculpture and inscription
Ans: C) Two stone legs and a shattered face

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Q3. What does the face of the statue show?
A) Happiness and kindness
B) Pride, cruelty, and arrogance
C) Sadness and fear
D) Peace and calm
Ans: B) Pride, cruelty, and arrogance

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Q4. What is written on the pedestal of Ozymandias’s statue?
A) “Here lies a mighty king”
B) “My name is Ozymandias, King of Kings; Look on my Works, ye Mighty, and despair!”
C) “All power belongs to the desert”
D) “Nothing lasts forever”
Ans: B) “My name is Ozymandias, King of Kings; Look on my Works, ye Mighty, and despair!”

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Q5. What is ironic in the poem?
A) The king’s empire is flourishing
B) The statue is fully intact
C) The king boasts of his power, but nothing remains
D) The desert is full of life
Ans: C) The king boasts of his power, but nothing remains

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Q6. What does the desert symbolize in the poem?
A) Human pride and ambition
B) Time, nature, and impermanence of human power
C) Wealth and prosperity
D) Happiness and joy
Ans: B) Time, nature, and impermanence of human power

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Q7. Which poetic device is used in “Look on my Works, ye Mighty, and despair!”?
A) Simile
B) Irony
C) Personification
D) Alliteration
Ans: B) Irony

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Q8. What is the central idea of the poem?
A) Human achievements are permanent
B) Nature always obeys humans
C) Human pride and power are temporary, while time and nature endure
D) Kings are always victorious
Ans: C) Human pride and power are temporary, while time and nature endure

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Q9. Which of the following is a poetic device used in the poem?
A) Alliteration
B) Imagery
C) Symbolism
D) All of the above
Ans: D) All of the above

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Q10. The poem Ozymandias is written in the form of:
A) Ballad
B) Sonnet
C) Free verse
D) Limerick
Ans: B) Sonnet

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10. Vocabulary of the difficult used in of the poem Ozymandias by Percy Bysshe Shelley:

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1. Antique

• Meaning: Very old; ancient

• Synonyms: Ancient, old-fashioned, vintage

• Antonyms: Modern, new, recent

• Example: The traveller came from an antique land filled with ruins.

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2. Trunkless

• Meaning: Without a trunk or body

• Synonyms: Bodiless, incomplete

• Antonyms: Complete, whole, intact

• Example: Only the trunkless legs of the statue remained in the desert.

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3. Visage

• Meaning: Face; facial expression

• Synonyms: Face, countenance, features

• Antonyms: Rear, back (contextual opposite)

• Example: The visage of the statue showed pride and cruelty.

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4. Sneer

• Meaning: A contemptuous or mocking smile

• Synonyms: Smirk, scorn, mock

• Antonyms: Smile, praise, admiration

• Example: His lips formed a sneer of cold command.

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5. Colossal

• Meaning: Extremely large or great

• Synonyms: Huge, enormous, gigantic

• Antonyms: Small, tiny, miniature

• Example: The statue was a colossal work of art.

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6. Pedestal

• Meaning: A base or support for a statue or object

• Synonyms: Base, platform, stand

• Antonyms: Top, summit (opposite contextually)

• Example: The inscription was carved on the pedestal of the statue.

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7. Boundless

• Meaning: Without limits; infinite

• Synonyms: Endless, limitless, vast

• Antonyms: Limited, finite, restricted

• Example: The boundless desert stretched far and wide.

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8. Decay

• Meaning: Gradual destruction or deterioration

• Synonyms: Rot, destruction, decline

• Antonyms: Growth, development, improvement

• Example: The statue lay in decay after centuries.

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9. Mocked

• Meaning: Imitated or ridiculed

• Synonyms: Ridiculed, imitated, mimicked

• Antonyms: Praised, honored, respected

• Example: The sculptor mocked the king’s arrogance in stone.

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10. Colossal Wreck

• Meaning: A huge ruin or broken structure

• Synonyms: Huge ruin, massive debris

• Antonyms: Intact structure, whole building

• Example: Only a colossal wreck of the statue remained in the desert.

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