Learn Vocabulary from 'The Hindu' Newspaper Wordlist: 17th September, 2021

Reading is one of the best ways to boost your vocabulary. As you read a piece of writing, you come across new words which you might not have come across before. So, we must always try to inculcate a habit of reading.

Keeping this vision in mind, we bring to you the series, ‘Newspaper Wordlist’. The articles in this series fulfil your daily intake of English words. The series tries to feature words from an article, with their meanings, contextual usage, pronunciation, synonyms, antonyms, proper use in sentences, etc. Given below is an important editorial from the newspaper ‘The Hindu’. Read it, understand the context and go through the meanings of words to boost up your learning.

Happy Reading!

Cracking the whip: On Joe Biden’s vaccine mandates

Important Words from the Article

1. Word: Buckle (झुका देना)

• Pronunciation: shoh-vuh-nist/ बकल
• Part of Speech: Noun, Verb
• Meaning: 
  a. a flat, typically rectangular frame with a hinged pin, used for joining the ends of a belt or strap. [Noun]
  b. fasten or decorate with a buckle. [Verb]
  c. bend and give way under pressure or strain. [Verb]
• Synonyms: clasp, crumple, bend, collapse
• Antonyms: unbuckle, smooth, straighten
• Usage in a Sentence: He tried to buckle down to some work.

2. Word: Leverage (लाभ उठाना)

• Pronunciation: lev-er-ij/लीवरिज
• Part of Speech: Noun
• Meaning:

        a. power or ability to act or to influence people, events, decisions, etc.; sway

• Synonyms: advantage, authority, supremacy
• Antonyms: inferiority, poorness, weakness 
• Use in a Sentence: We'll have to use leverage to move this huge rock.

 3. Word: Mandate (आदेश देना)

• Pronunciation: man-deyt/मैन्डेट
• Part of Speech: Noun, Verb
• Meaning:  

        a. an official order or commission to do something. [Noun]

        b. give (someone) authority to act in a certain way. [Verb]

• Synonyms: order, command, instruction
• Antonyms: prohibit, abolish, denial
• Use in a Sentence: The organization was chosen with a mandate to reduce the size of the government.

4. Word: Distort (विकृत करना)

• Pronunciation: dih-stawrt/डिस्टॉर्ट
• Part of Speech: Verb
• Meaning: give a misleading or false account or impression of.
  
• Synonyms:  misrepresent, pervert, twist, falsify
• Antonyms: clarify, demonstrate
• Use in a Sentence: The loudspeaker seemed to distort his voice.

5. Word: Catastrophic (अनर्थकारी)

• Pronunciation: kat-uh-strof-ik/कैटस्ट्राफिक
• Part of Speech: Adjective
• Meaning:
  a. of the nature of a catastrophe, or disastrous event; calamitous
• Synonyms: disastrous, tragic, ruinous, destructive
• Antonyms: harmless, lucky, encouraging
• Usage in a sentence: She had to put her catastrophic Olympic performance out of her mind.

6. Phrase: Nitty-grittty (महत्वपूर्ण पहलू)

• Pronunciation: nit-ee-grit-ee/निटी ग्रिटी
• Part of Speech: Noun
• Meaning: the most important aspects or practical details of a subject or situation.
  
• Synonyms: core, crux, centre, quintessence
• Antonyms: exterior, outside
• Usage in a Sentence: It's time to get down to the nitty-gritty of how much this will cost.

7. Word: Expansive (प्रसरणशील)

• Pronunciation: ik-span-siv
• Part of Speech: Adjective
• Meaning: 
  a. having a wide range or extent; comprehensive; extensive
  b. (of a person's character or speech) effusive, unrestrained, free, or open
  c. tending to expand or capable of expanding.
  d. causing expansion
• Synonyms: extensive, broad, vast, great
• Antonyms: narrow, limited, restricted
• Usage in a sentence: The report was expansive, elaborating every point with the greatest detail for better understanding. 

8. Word: Decry (निंदा करना)

• Pronunciation: dih-krahy/ डिक्राइ
• Part of Speech: Verb
• Meaning: publicly denounce
• Synonyms: denounce, condemn, criticize
• Antonyms: exalt, applaud, compliment
• Usage in a Sentence: He is impatient with those who decry the scheme.

9. Word: Compel (दबाव डालना)

• Pronunciation: kuhm-pel/कम्पेल
• Part of Speech: Verb
• Meaning:
  a. force or oblige (someone) to do something.
  b. bring about (something) by the use of force or pressure.
  c. force to come or go in a particular direction.
  
• Synonyms: pressure, impel, drive, press, push, urge
• Antonyms: free, impede, deter, block
• Use in a Sentence: His courage and skill compel our admiration.

10. Word: Rhetoric (शब्दाडम्बर)

• Pronunciation: ret-er-ik/रेटरिक
• Part of Speech: Noun
• Meaning: language designed to have a persuasive or impressive effect, but which is often regarded as lacking in sincerity or meaningful content.
  
• Synonyms: Elocution, Discourse, Bombast
• Antonyms: Conciseness, Quiet
• Use in a Sentence: As the elections are just one week away, the rhetoric on both parties is building.

'Writer's Corner'

Based on the description of the words, we have some practice questions for you. Answer these questions in the comments section. Our team will review them at the earliest!

Exercise 1. Make your own Sentences.

Here are some of the words from the above article. Try to frame sentences from them in your own words and share them with us in the comments section!

• Buckle
• Catastrophic
• Rhetoric
• Decry
• Nitty-gritty

Exercise 2: Match the columns.

Share your answers in the comment section.

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