Shape Up your Vocabulary from Newspaper Wordlist: 2nd Nov'21

Over the last couple of years, the English section of the competitive exams has given good surprises. You must have encountered one or more new types of questions in almost every exam you appear for. Many of these questions exclusively check your vocabulary skills. So, apart from enhancing your reading, writing and speaking skills, a sound grip on vocabulary helps you score better in examinations. 

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, ‘Shape up your Vocabulary from 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!

The big push: On Joe Biden’s social security and climate change plan

Important Words from the Article

1. Word: Thrust (जोर)

• Pronunciation: thra-ust/थ्रस्ट
• Part of Speech: Verb
• Meaning: 
  a. to force something in a certain direction
  
• Synonyms: force, push, pressurize
• Antonyms: decline, ignore
• Usage in a Sentence: Reporters thrust their microphones on the governor's face as he came out of the building.

2. Word: Clamp Down (कठोर नीति)

• Pronunciation: klamp doun/क्लैम्प्डाउन
• Part of Speech: Phrasal Verb of Clamp
• Meaning: suppress or prevent something in an oppressive or harsh manner.
• Synonyms: suppress, prevent
• Antonyms: bring up, extract
• Usage in a Sentence: The situation could worsen this year as the government continues to clamp down on credit.

 3. Word: Enforcement (प्रचलन)

• Pronunciation: en-fawrs-muh nt/एन्फोर्स्मन्ट
• Part of Speech: Noun
• Meaning: the act of compelling observance of or compliance with a law, rule, or obligation. 
  
• Synonyms:  imposition, implementation
• Antonyms: dismissal, expiration
• Usage in a Sentence: The doctors want stricter enforcement of existing laws.

4. Word: Potential (संभवनीय/ अन्तर्निहित शक्ति)

• Pronunciation: puh-ten-shuh l/पटेन्शल
• Part of Speech: Adjective, Noun
• Meaning:
  a. having or showing the capacity to develop into something in the future. [Adjective]
  b. latent qualities or abilities that may be developed and lead to future success or usefulness. [Verb]
• Synonyms: possible, ability, capacity
• Antonyms: impossible, inability, doubtful
• Usage in a sentence: A number of potential buyers have expressed interest in the company.

5. Word: Conundrum (समस्या)

• Pronunciation: kuh-nuhn-druh m/ कनन्ड्रम
• Part of Speech: Noun
• Meaning: 
  a. a confusing and difficult problem or question.
  b. a question asked for amusement, typically one with a pun in its answer; a riddle.
• Synonyms: enigma, mystery, puzzle
• Antonyms: clarification, obviousness
• Usage in a Sentence: Time will certainly provide the solution to that conundrum.

6. Word: Paradox (विरोधाभासी)

• Pronunciation: par-uh-doks/पैरडाक्स
• Part of Speech: Noun
• Meaning:
  a. a situation or statement that seems impossible or is difficult to understand because it contains two opposite facts or characteristics
  b. a self-contradictory and false proposition.
  c. any person, thing, or situation exhibiting an apparently contradictory nature.
• Synonyms: enigma, contradiction, absurdity
• Antonyms: certainty, explanation 
• Usage in a sentence: It's a curious paradox that drinking a lot of water can often make you feel thirsty.

7. 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 conference gave its official sanction to the change of policy.

8. Word: Bipartisan (द्विदलीय)

• Pronunciation: bahy-pahr-tuh-zuhn/बाइपार्टिसन
• Part of Speech: Adjective
• Meaning:
  a. representing, characterized by, or including members from two parties or factions:
• Synonyms: two-party, dualistic, double
• Antonyms: partial, biased, one-sided
• Usage in a sentence: Government leaders hope to achieve a bipartisan foreign policy.

9. Word: Ambitious (महत्त्वाकांक्षी)

• Pronunciation: am-bish-uhs/ ऐम्बिशस
• Part of Speech: Adjective
• Meaning: having or showing a strong desire and determination to succeed.
• Synonyms: aspiring, determined, progressive
• Antonyms: lazy, unambitious
• Usage in a sentence: The government has announced an ambitious programme to modernize the railway network.

10. Word: Recession (आर्थिक मंदी/पीछे हटना)

• Pronunciation: ri-sesh-uhn
• Part of Speech: Noun
• Meaning:
  a. the act of receding or withdrawing.
  b. a receding part of a wall, building, etc.
  c. a withdrawing procession, as at the end of a religious service.
  d. Economics. a period of an economic contraction, sometimes limited in scope or duration.Compare depression (def. 7). 
• Synonyms: regression, depression, downturn, niche, slump, decline
• Antonyms: inflation, growth, boom, progress, advance
• Usage in a sentence: Some economists say a recession is possible in 2022, while others believe an economic downturn may not begin until the following year.

'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!

• thrust
   
• clamp Down
   
• enforcement
   
• potential 
   
• conundrum 

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