Shape Up your Vocabulary from Newspaper Wordlist: 8th Dec'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!

Party and power: On political violence in Kerala

Important Words from the Article

1. Word: Entangle (फंदे में फंसना/जाल में फंसना)

• Pronunciation: en-tang-guh l/एन्टैंगगल
• Part of Speech: Verb
• Meaning:
  a. to intertwine
  b. to involve in or as in a tangle; ensnare; enmesh
  c. to involve in difficulties
  d. to confuse or perplex
• Synonyms: tangle, snarl, involve, knot
• Antonyms: unsnarl, disengage, untwist
• Usage in a sentence: The dolphin had become entangled in/with the fishing nets.

2. Word: Probe (जांच करना)

• Pronunciation: prohb/ प्रोब
• Part of Speech: Noun, Verb 
• Meaning: 
  a. a thorough investigation into a crime or other matter. [Noun]
  b. explore or examine (something), especially with the hands or an instrument. [Verb]
• Synonyms: scrutinize, inquiry
• Antonyms: glimpse, absurd
• Usage in a Sentence: I don't want to probe too deeply into your personal affairs.

 3. Word: Indefensible (असमर्थनीय)

• Pronunciation: in-di-fen-suh-buhl/ इन्डिफेन्सबल
• Part of Speech: Adjective
• Meaning:
  a. not justifiable; inexcusable
  b. incapable of being protected or defended against attack
  c. incapable of being defended against criticism or denial; untenable
• Synonyms: unjustifiable, untenable, inexcusable
• Antonyms: defensible, excusable, reasonable
• Usage in a sentence: The argument proved to be indefensible in court.

4. Word: Fiercely (उग्रतापूर्वक)

• Pronunciation: feers-ly/फीर्स्ली
• Part of Speech: Adverb
• Meaning: in a powerful and destructive manner.
• Synonyms: furiously, intensely, excitedly
• Antonyms: calmly, kindheartedly, peacefully
• Use in a Sentence: He was fiercely protective of his family traditions.

5. Word: Chide (झिड़कना)

• Pronunciation: chahyd/चाइड
• Part of Speech: Verb
• Meaning: scold or rebuke.
  
• Synonyms: reprove, admonish
• Antonyms: praise, compliment
• Usage in a Sentence: The manager chided him for his delay.

6. Word: Allegedly (कथित रूप से)

• Pronunciation: uh-lej-id-lee/अलेजिड्ली
• Part of Speech: Adverb
• Meaning: used to convey that something is claimed to be the case or have taken place, although there is no proof.
• Synonyms: reportedly, supposedly, reputedly, purportedly, ostensibly, apparently
• Antonyms: accurately, certainly, actually, exactly
• Usage in Sentence: He lost his job for allegedly being incapable.

7. Word: Gruesome (कुरूप/भीषण)

• Pronunciation: groo-suh m/ग्रूसम
• Part of Speech: Adjective
• Meaning:
  a. causing great horror; horribly repugnant; grisly
  b. full of or causing problems; distressing
• Synonyms: grisly, ghastly, hideous, appalling
• Antonyms: pretty, delightful, pleasant
• Usage in a sentence: The newspaper article included a gruesome description of the murder.

8. Word: Cadre (संवर्ग/ढांचा)

• Pronunciation: kad-ree/काड्र
• Part of Speech: Noun
• Meaning: 
  a. Military. the key group of officers and enlisted personnel necessary to establish and train a new military unit
  b. a group of trained or otherwise qualified personnel capable of forming, training, or leading an expanded organization, as a religious or political faction, or a skilled work force
  c. (especially in Communist countries) a cell of trained and devoted workers
  d. a member of a cadre; a person qualified to serve in a cadre
  e. a framework, outline, or scheme
• Synonyms: cell, group, framework, crew
• Usage in a sentence: I was part of the cadre for a new armored division.

9. Word: Apprehension (डर)

• Pronunciation: ap-ri-hen-shuh n/ ऐप्रिहेन्शन
• Part of Speech: Noun
• Meaning: anxiety or fear that something bad or unpleasant will happen.
  
• Synonyms: dread, fear, anxiety, worry, arrest
• Antonyms: confidence, calmness, ease
• Usage in a Sentence: The change in the law has caused apprehension among many people.

10. Word: Specious (दिखावटी)

• Pronunciation: spee-shuh s/स्पीशस
• Part of Speech: Adjective 
• Meaning:
  a.  superficially plausible, but actually wrong
• Synonyms: deceptive, apparent
• Antonyms: valid, credible
• Usage in a sentence: They wouldn't accept his specious claim.

'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!

• entangle
   
• probe 
   
• indefensible 
   
• fiercely 
   
• chide

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