The Hindu Editorial (Pious and sanctimonious) – Feb 05, 2021

India’s unusual response to comments on the ongoing farmers’ protests by some international celebrities comes across as highly sanctimonious. For further reading, visit “The Hindu”. Below is today’s word list-1 for The Hindu Editorial (Pious and sanctimonious) – Feb 05, 2021.

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Courtesy: The Hindu

The Hindu Editorial (Pious and sanctimonious) – Feb 05, 2021:

pious (adjective) – sanctimonious, hypocritical, insincere, self-righteous, superior.
conspiracy (noun) – (unlawful) plan, intrigue, collaboration/deception, collusion.
ongoing (adjective) – continuing, happening/occurring, unending, unceasing, relentless.
come across (phrasal verb) – seem, appear, look.
temptation (noun) – appeal, allure, attraction, fascination; desire, urge, impulse/inclination.
sensationalist (adjective) – presenting something (e.g. news) to produce strong feelings (shock, anger, or excitement).
resort to (verb) – use, utilize, turn to, have recourse to.
ascertain (verb) – find out, understand, recognize, get to know.
at hand (phrase) – nearby, around, on the doorstep; forthcoming, about to happen, just around the corner.
rush (verb) – act rapidly/hurriedly.
supercilious (adjective) – arrogant, disdainful, overbearing, superior; scornful.
context (noun) – situation; circumstances, conditions, state of affairs.
draw attention to (phrase) – emphasize, highlight, underscore; focus on.
extraordinary (adjective) – out of the ordinary, unusual, uncommon, surprising.
measure (noun) – action, step, procedure.
put down (phrasal verb) – suppress, put an end to, crush, quash, quell, overthrow.
trench (noun) – ditch, channel, trough, excavation.
personage (noun) – important person, VIP, celebrity/public figure.
venture (verb) – undertake/involve (in a risky job/business).
warrant (verb) – call for, necessitate, justify.
The Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) (noun) – The Ministry of External Affairs (abbreviated as MEA) of India, also known as the Foreign Ministry, is the government agency responsible for the conduct of foreign relations of India.
vested interest (noun) – a personal interest in something to get benefit.
mobilise (verb) – bring (resources) into use for a particular purpose/cause.
smack of (verb) – suggest, hint at, give the impression of, seem like, be a sign of something (bad/unpleasant).
paranoia (noun) – unreasonable suspicion, disbelief, mistrust, misgiving (of other people).
isolated (adjective) – random, unrelated.
tizzy (noun) – disturbance, upset, confusion.
lead to (verb) – result in, cause, bring on, call forth, give rise to.
riposte (noun) – answer, reply, respond.
reflect (verb) – indicate, show, reveal, exhibit.
siege mentality (noun) – someone’s defensive, suspicious, fearful attitude/belief that everyone else opposes him/her.
insecurity (noun) – lack of confidence, self-doubt, unassertiveness, uncertainty, nervousness.
dissent (noun) – disagreement, difference of opinion, opposition.
design (noun) – intention, purpose, planning, objective, target.
stuff (noun) – items.
propaganda (noun) – the (deliberate & systemic) spreading of information (facts, ideas, rumours or lies) to influence public opinion.
climate change (noun) – a long-term change in the Earth’s climate, or of a region on Earth (Courtesy: NASA).
activist (noun) – a person who supports a political or societal change/cause.
toolkit (noun) – a link with a document containing details about something.
unedifying (adjective) – distasteful; unpleasant, undesirable (public event).
touchiness (noun) – over sensitiveness, sensitivity, super sensitivity.
interference (noun) – intervention, meddling, unwarranted involvement.
profess (verb) – affirm, declare, announce, assert, state, avow.
voice (verb) – express, make public, announce, mention, raise.
of course (phrase) – certainly, definitely, absolutely; obviously, clearly.
entitle (verb) – authorize, allow, permit.
given (preposition) – considering, taking into account, bearing in mind.
takeover (noun) – coup, seizure of power, overthrow, deposition, regime change.
Capitol (noun) – In the United States, the Capitol is a building in Washington in which the US Congress meets.
oft-expressed (adjective) – often expressed.
neighbouring (adjective) – adjacent.
iteration (noun) – repetition.
have a bearing on (phrase) – have a relevance/relation to something.
traction (noun) – popularity, acceptance.
authoritarian (adjective) – oppressive, illiberal, draconian, undemocratic, dictatorial, totalitarian, autocratic.
disrespectful (adjective) – discourteous, rude, impolite, ill-mannered, bad-mannered, inconsiderate.
given to (adjective) – inclined, disposed, prone to.
undermine (verb) – reduce, diminish, impede, hinder.
(fourth branch) institution (noun) – the independent institutions, which are tasked with the protection of key constitutional values such as democracy, legality, impartiality, probity, human rights and price stability, are characterized as the fourth branch of the state, because of their distinctiveness from the three “branches”- the executive, legislature and judiciary. (In the Indian context, institutions of the fourth branch include the Election Commission, Office of the Comptroller and Auditor General, Central Bureau of Investigation, Reserve Bank, National Statistics Commission, National Human Rights Commission, Public Service Commission, University Grants Commission, Finance Commission, Niti Aayog and many others).