Shape Up your Vocabulary from Newspaper Wordlist: 20th Sept 2021

In keeping with the idea of learning and scoring better in English, we bring to you our series, ‘Shape up your Vocabulary from Newspaper Wordlist’. A daily dose of this article acquaints you with commonly (and not so commonly) used English words. The series tries to feature every such word, with its meaning, contextual usage, pronunciation, synonym, antonym, proper use in sentences, etc., that could save you from sitting with a dictionary while reading. Ultimately, it facilitates smooth reading and better intake of the newspaper article.

Given below is an important editorial from the newspaper ‘The Indian Express’. Read it, understand the context and go through the meanings of words to boost up your learning.

Happy Reading!

The wrong answer

Important Words from the Article

1. Word: Prod (उकसाना)

• Pronunciation: prod/ प्राड
• Part of Speech: Verb
• Meaning: 
  a. to poke or jab with or as if with something pointed:
  to rouse or incite as if by poking; nag; goad.
• Synonyms: spur, urge, augur
• Antonyms: discourage, dissuade, prevent
• Usage in a sentence: I prodded him with my elbow.

2. Word: Dictate (निर्धारण करना)

• Pronunciation: dik-teyt/डिक्टेट
• Part of Speech: Noun, Verb
• Meaning: 
  a. state or order authoritatively. [Verb]
  b. an order or principle that must be obeyed. [Noun]
• Synonyms: command, prescribe
• Antonyms: appeal, undergo
• Usage in a sentence: It took him a long time to dictate this letter.

 3. Word: Skew (तिरछा)

• Pronunciation: skyoo/स्क्यू
• Part of Speech: Verb
• Meaning: 
  a. suddenly change direction or position. 
  b. make biased or distorted in a way that is regarded as inaccurate, unfair, or misleading.
  
• Synonyms: twist, slant
• Antonyms: parallel, vertical
• Use in a Sentence: A few inaccurate figures could skew the results of the survey.

4. Word: Scrap (खंड, रद्द करना)

• Part of Speech: Verb
• Pronunciation: skrap/स्क्रैप
• Meaning: 
  a. discard or remove from service (a redundant, old, or inoperative vehicle, vessel, or machine).
  b. abolish or cancel (a plan, policy, or law).
• Synonyms: disposal, removal
• Antonyms: retention, adoption
• Use in a Sentence: In the end, the decision to scrap the project was unanimous. 

5. Word: Streak (प्रवृत्ति, रेखा)

• Pronunciation: streek/ स्ट्रीक
• Part of Speech: Noun, Verb
• Meaning:
  a. a long, thin line or mark of a different substance or colour from its surroundings. (Noun)
  b. an element of a specified kind in someone's character. (Noun)
  c. cover (a surface) with streaks. (Verb)
  d. move very fast in a specified direction. (Verb)
• Synonyms: stripe, mark, quality, line
• Antonyms: abundance, profusion, fistful
• Usage in a Sentence: The miners had streaks of coal dust on their faces.

6. Phrase: Blind spot (अंधस्थल)

• Pronunciation: bluh-eend spawt/ब्लाइन्ड स्पाट
• Part of Speech: Noun
• Meaning:
  a. an area that you are not able to see, especially the part of a road you cannot see when you are driving, behind and slightly to one side of the car
  b. a subject or area in which someone's ability to understand is weak or lacking
• Synonyms: blind side, weakness, weak spot, soft spot
• Antonyms: strength
• Usage in a sentence: He was a great scientist, but he had his blind spots.

7. Phrase: To have skin in the game (विपत्ति पूर्ण निवेश करना)

• Pronunciation: टू हैव स्किन इन थर गेम
• Part of Speech: Idiom
• Meaning: to have incurred risk (monetary or otherwise) by being involved in achieving a goal
• Synonyms: interests at stake, invest heavily
• Antonyms: withdraw, detach
• Usage in a Sentence: You take more ownership of something when you have some skin in the game.

8. Word: Robust (मजबूत)

• Pronunciation: roh-buhst/रोबस्ट
• Part of Speech: Adjective
• Meaning: 

        a. strong and healthy; vigorous.

• Synonyms: powerful, persistent
• Antonyms: weak, feeble
• Use in a Sentence: The organization is taking a more robust approach to management.

9. Word: Enviable (लोभ्य)

• Pronunciation: en-vee-uh-buhl/ एन्वीअबल
• Part of Speech: Adjective
• Meaning: arousing or likely to arouse envy.
• Synonyms: desirable, fortunate, desired
• Antonyms: undesirable, unwanted, obnoxious
• Usage in a sentence: She has built up an enviable reputation as a harpist.

10. Word: Espouse (अपनाना)

• Pronunciation: ih-spouz/ इस्पाउज़ 
• Part of Speech: Verb
• Meaning: adopt or support (a cause, belief, or way of life).
• Synonyms: adopt, embrace, support, advocate
• Antonyms: disown, discard, reject, divorce
• Usage in a sentence: Even though you’re my best friend, I can’t espouse your radical views on the death sentence.

'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!

• Espouse
• To have skin in the game
• Enviable
• Skew
• Blind spot

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