Shape Up your Vocabulary from Newspaper Wordlist: 18th Nov'21

To enhance your command over English vocabulary, you must learn new words regularly. Now, the question arises, how you can strengthen your vocabulary skills. For this, it is necessary that you improve your reading habit by going through newspapers on a daily basis and look up the new words. This exercise will also help you understand the context of the sentences.
Our series, ‘Shape up your Vocabulary from Newspaper Wordlist’ comes in very handy to boost this exercise. It helps you grasp the commonly used words with their meanings, pronunciation, synonym, antonym, 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 given below to scale-up your knowledge.

Happy Reading!

For more than a waiver: On India-US global strategic partnership

Important Words from the Article

1. Word: Waiver (त्याग)

• Pronunciation: wey-ver/वैवर
• Part of Speech: Noun
• Meaning: an act or instance of refraining from demanding compliance with a right or claim.
• Synonyms: abandonment, disclaimer, exemption
• Antonyms: accept, charge, apprehend
• Usage in a Sentence: We had to sign a waiver, giving up any rights to the land in the future.

2. Word: Sanction (स्वीकृति देना)

• Pronunciation: sangk-shuhn/ सैंगक्शन
• Part of Speech: Noun, Verb
• Meaning:
  a. a threatened penalty for disobeying a law or rule. [Noun]
  b. give official permission or approval for (an action). [Verb]
• Synonyms: approve, endorse, authorize, permit
• Antonyms: disapprove, contempt, refusal, forbid
• Usage in a sentence: The country imposed an unjustified sanction on its ally.

 3. Word: Undermine (दुर्बल बना देना)

• Pronunciation: uhn-der-mahyn/अन्डर्माइन
• Part of Speech: Verb
• Meaning:
  a. erode the base or foundation of (a rock formation).
  b. lessen the effectiveness, power, or ability of, especially gradually or insidiously.
• Synonyms: weaken, impair, subvert
• Antonyms: strengthen, encourage
• Usage in a sentence: The scandal threatened to undermine the institution of the Presidency.

4. Word: Gauntlet (हस्त-त्राण)

• Pronunciation: gawnt-let/गॉन्ट्लट
• Part of Speech: Noun
• Meaning: 
  a. go through an intimidating or dangerous crowd or experience in order to reach a goal
  b. an armored glove
  c. the part of a glove covering the wrist
  d. a severe trial
• Synonyms: glove', mitten, suit of armor
• Usage in a sentence: She had to run the gauntlet of male autograph seekers.

5. Word: Heed (ध्यान देना)

• Pronunciation: heed/ हीड
• Part of Speech: Verb
• Meaning: pay attention to; take notice of
• Synonyms: notice, regard, observe
• Antonyms: ignore, neglect, disregard
• Usage in a Sentence: They failed to heed a warning about the dangerous currents in the river.

6. Word: Frontier (सरहद)

• Pronunciation: frant-ee-ar/ फ्रन्टीर
• Part of speech: Noun 
  
• Meaning: a line that separates two countries , limit
• Synonyms: Boundary , Margin , Edge, Border
• Antonyms: Inside , Inward
• Usage in a sentence: Lille is close to the frontier between France and Belgium.

7. Word: Stricture  (कटु आलोचना)

• Pronunciation: strik-cher/स्ट्रिक्चर
• Part of Speech: Noun
• Meaning:
  a. a remark or comment, especially an adverse criticism
  b. an abnormal contraction of any passage or duct of the body.
• Synonyms: stenosis, constraint, restriction
• Antonyms: blessing, praise, gratitude
• Usage in a sentence: The reviewer made several strictures upon the author's style.

8. Word: Showdown (अंतिम मुक़ाबला)

• Pronunciation: shoh-doun/ शोडाउन
• Part of Speech: Noun
• Meaning: 
  a. the laying down of one's cards, face upward, in a card game, especially poker.
  b. a conclusive settlement of an issue, difference, etc., in which all resources, power, or the like, are used; decisive confrontation:
• Synonyms: confrontation, encounter, face-off
• Antonyms: agreement, negotiation, peacemaking
• Usage in a sentence: An international showdown was inevitable between various European countries after Hitler declared war on Poland. 

9. Word: Whimsical (अद्भुत)

• Pronunciation: hwim-zi-kuh l/ह्विम्ज़िकल
• Part of Speech: Adjective
• Meaning:
  a. playfully quaint or fanciful, especially in an appealing and amusing way.
  b. acting or behaving in a capricious manner.
• Synonyms: capricious, mischievous, impulsive
• Antonyms: reasonable, ordinary
• Usage in a Sentence: Much of his writing has a whimsical quality.

10. Word: Rift (मनमुटाव/ फाड़ना)

• Pronunciation: rift/ रिफ्ट
• Part of Speech: Noun, Verb
• Meaning:
  a crack, split, or break in something. [Noun]
  b. a serious break in friendly relations. [Noun]
  c. form fissures or breaks, especially through large-scale faulting; move apart. [Verb]
• Synonyms: split, break, rupture, breach
• Antonyms: closure, blend
• Usage in a sentence: Efforts to heal the rift between the two countries have failed.

'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!

• waiver
   
• sanction
   
• undermine
   
• gauntlet
   
• heed

Exercise 2: Match the columns.

Share your answers in the comment section. 

More from us:

For practice, attempt the quiz based on this daily wordlist from the link below to enhance your exam preparation: Vocabulary Quiz, Click here to attempt!

You can also check the wordlist articles for the previous days from the link below: Shape Up your Vocabulary from Newspaper Wordlist

That was your Vocabulary dose for the day. 

from BYJU'S Exam Prep