Shape Up your Vocabulary from Newspaper Wordlist: 3rd 'Dec21

Vocabulary is an essential tool to ace the English section in competitive examinations. You can score better in the subject if you are able to intensify your command over Vocabulary. A regular reading habit can help you with this. With the exercise, you will come across a number of new words, whose meanings you can look up in the dictionary. This, in turn, will help you understand the context of the piece you are reading.

Reading articles from newspapers helps you in two ways: Memorising Static Facts from the Article & Enhancing your Vocabulary.

In conjunction with the above idea, we bring to you our series ‘Shape up your Vocabulary from Newspaper Wordlist’. This series aims to help you understand the different aspects of the commonly (and not so commonly) used words, ranging from their meaning and pronunciations to proper usage in sentences.

Today's article is from "The Indian Express" newspaper. Understand the gist of the article using the meaning of the words given below and practice questions at the end of this article.

BSF DG’s remark on demographic change to justify a wider berth in border areas is flawed, disturbing

Important Words from the Article

1. Word: Mobilisation (संघटन)

• Pronunciation: moh-buh-lahy-za-shun/मोबलिज़ैशन
• Part of Speech: Noun
• Meaning:
  a. the act of organizing or preparing something, such as a group of people, for a purpose
  b. the act of preparing to fight, especially in a war
• Synonyms: arrangement, gathering, rally
• Antonyms: demobilization
• Usage in a sentence: The area is notorious for low turnout, making voter mobilization crucial.

2. Word: Flaw (त्रुटि)

• Pronunciation: flaw/फ्लॉ
• Part of Speech: Noun, Verb
• Meaning: 
  a. a mark, blemish, or other imperfection which mars a substance or object. [Noun]
  b. mar, weaken, or invalidate (something). [Verb]
  
• Synonyms: defect, fault
• Antonyms: strength, virtue
• Usage in a Sentence: There is a basic flaw in the selection procedure.

 3. Word: Disquiet (व्याकुल होना)

• Pronunciation: dis-kwahy-it/ डिस्क्वाइइट
• Part of Speech: Noun, Verb
• Meaning:
  a. a feeling of worry or unease. [Noun]
  b. make (someone) worried or uneasy. [Verb]
• Synonyms: uneasiness, worry, anxiety, agitate, upset
• Antonyms: calm, ease, comfort, peace
• Usage in a Sentence: The sudden disquiet in the middle of the night turned out to be a burglary in the neighbourhood.

4. Word: Refrain (रोकना)

• Pronunciation: ri-freyn/रिफ्रैन
• Part of Speech: Verb 
• Meaning: stop oneself from doing something.
  
• Synonyms: cease, desist
• Antonyms: persist, indulge
• Usage in a Sentence: We must refrain from smoking.

5. Word: Infiltrate (घुसपैठ करना)

• Pronunciation: in-fil-treyt 
• Part of Speech: Verb
• Meaning: enter or gain access to (an organization, place, etc.) surreptitiously and gradually, especially in order to acquire secret information.
• Synonyms: penetrate, permeate, enter, insinuate, pervade
• Antonyms: seal, stamp, block
• Usage in a Sentence: Attempts to infiltrate undercover agents into the gang have failed.

6. Word: Agitation (व्याकुलता)

• Pronunciation: aj-i-tey-shuh n/ऐजिटेशन
• Part of Speech: Noun
• Meaning: a state of anxiety or nervous excitement.
• Synonyms: disquiet, distress
• Antonyms: peace, calmness
• Usage in Sentence: The man was in a state of great agitation.

7. 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.

8. Word: Spectre (पिशाच)

• Pronunciation: spek-ter/ स्पेक्टर
• Part of Speech: Noun
• Meaning:
  a. a ghost.
  b. something widely feared as a possible unpleasant or dangerous occurrence.
• Synonyms: ghost, phantom, apparition, premonition
• Antonyms: reality
• Usage in a sentence: The country is haunted by the spectre of civil war.

9. Word: Polarise (विपरीत करना)

• Pronunciation: poh-luh-rahyz/ पोलराइस
• Part of Speech: Verb
• Meaning: divide or cause to divide into two sharply contrasting groups or sets of opinions or beliefs
  
• Synonyms: differentiate, split, separate, divide
• Antonyms: unite, bring together, amalgamate
• Usage in a Sentence: The current architectural debate has served to polarise popular opinion on modern architecture.

10. Word: Seizure (गिरफ़्त)

• Pronunciation: see-zher /सीश़र
• Part of Speech: Noun
• Meaning:
  a. a taking possession of an item, property, or person legally or by force.
  b. a sudden attack, as of epilepsy or some other disease.
• Synonyms: capture, confiscation, arrest
• Antonyms: release, liberation, discharge
• Usage in a sentence: There was seizure of illegal drugs at the crime scene. 

'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!

• mobilisation
   
• flaw
   
• disquiet
   
• refrain 
   
• infiltrate

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