Daily Vocabulary Words: Enhance Your Lexicon with Leading Newspapers & Publications
Welcome to the Daily Vocabulary section at Wordpandit!
Our mission is straightforward: to bring you essential vocabulary words featured in top newspapers and publications worldwide. By focusing on words you’ll encounter in renowned sources, we aim to help you enhance your vocabulary effectively and practically.
Our selection includes words from:
– The New York Times
– The Washington Post
– Scientific American
– BBC
– The Guardian
– Psychology Today
– Wall Street Journal
– The Economist
– The Hindu
– The Times of India
– The Economic Times
– Hindustan Times
– Live Mint
– The Indian Express
– And many more.
We are committed to your vocabulary development. Simply visit this section regularly and explore the daily posts. This is your go-to repository for commonly used words, providing significant practical benefits by familiarizing you with vocabulary from the leading publications listed above.
Make it a habit to visit our website daily and expand your lexicon with words from top newspapers and publications.
WORD-1: Inviolability
CONTEXT: The principle of the inviolability of borders, the future of the European Union, and U.S. credibility.
SOURCE: The Washington Post
EXPLANATORY PARAGRAPH: Imagine if you had a very special toy that no one else is allowed to touch or break, no matter what. It’s like a super important rule that no one can ignore. That toy would have inviolability, meaning it must always be protected and never harmed.
MEANING: The quality of being safe from harm or violation (noun).
PRONUNCIATION: in-VYE-oh-luh-BIL-ih-tee
SYNONYMS: sacredness, untouchability, protection, sanctity, security, immunity, invincibility
USAGE EXAMPLES:
1. The inviolability of the castle walls made it difficult for enemies to attack.
2. Many believe in the inviolability of human rights.
3. The treaty guaranteed the inviolability of the country’s borders.
4. The concept of inviolability ensures that certain places or things cannot be disturbed.
WORD-2: Contemporary
CONTEXT: Contemporary politics often looks like a fight over which side is more elitist and “out of touch.”
SOURCE: The Washington Post
EXPLANATORY PARAGRAPH: If something is happening right now, like watching your favorite cartoon on TV today, it’s called “contemporary.” It means it’s something new or belongs to the present time.
MEANING: Existing or happening at the same time as something else, especially in the present (adjective).
PRONUNCIATION: kuhn-TEM-puh-rare-ee
SYNONYMS: modern, present-day, current, up-to-date, recent, fashionable, of-the-moment
USAGE EXAMPLES:
1. Many contemporary artists use digital tools for their creations.
2. She prefers contemporary furniture in her house.
3. The book offers a contemporary perspective on old traditions.
4. Contemporary music is often played on the radio.
WORD-3: Disparaging
CONTEXT: He once called someone an “idiot” and “reprehensible,” among other disparaging things.
SOURCE: The Washington Post
EXPLANATORY PARAGRAPH: Imagine if someone says something mean about your drawing, making you feel bad. That’s called “disparaging,” when someone talks in a way that makes something seem less important or good.
MEANING: Speaking in a way that shows disrespect or criticism (adjective).
PRONUNCIATION: dih-SPAIR-uh-jing
SYNONYMS: belittling, demeaning, critical, dismissive, derogatory, scornful, mocking
USAGE EXAMPLES:
1. His disparaging comments about the team’s efforts hurt their feelings.
2. The article was filled with disparaging remarks about the politician.
3. She made a disparaging joke about his cooking skills.
4. Disparaging language can harm relationships and trust.
WORD-4: Reinstate
CONTEXT: He has said he’d like to reinstate slavery (and buy a few slaves himself).
SOURCE: The Washington Post
EXPLANATORY PARAGRAPH: If you accidentally knock over a toy tower and then put it back exactly where it was, you’re “reinstating” it. It means making something go back to the way it was before.
MEANING: To bring something back into use or to restore it to its previous state (verb).
PRONUNCIATION: re-in-STATE
SYNONYMS: restore, reintroduce, bring back, renew, reestablish, recover, reinstall
USAGE EXAMPLES:
1. The manager decided to reinstate the old rules after the new ones failed.
2. After his apology, he was reinstated to his former position.
3. The government plans to reinstate the funding for public schools.
4. They worked hard to reinstate peace in the troubled community.
WORD-5: Contentious
CONTEXT: In the volatile mix of a contentious U.S. election with immigration at its center.
SOURCE: The Washington Post
EXPLANATORY PARAGRAPH: Have you ever seen two kids argue over who gets to play with a toy? When people argue a lot about something, we call that thing “contentious.” It means it causes a lot of disagreements or fights.
MEANING: Likely to cause arguments or disagreements (adjective).
PRONUNCIATION: kuhn-TEN-shuhs
SYNONYMS: controversial, argumentative, quarrelsome, disputable, combative, debatable, provocative
USAGE EXAMPLES:
1. The new policy has become a contentious issue in the office.
2. Politics is often a contentious subject at family gatherings.
3. They had a contentious debate about who was responsible for the mistake.
4. The decision to build a new mall was contentious among the town’s residents.
WORD-6: Irrevocable
CONTEXT: The proceedings pit Murdoch, 93, and his chosen successor, Lachlan, against his three more liberal-leaning siblings over control of Murdoch’s empire via an irrevocable trust set up in 1999.
SOURCE: Guardian
EXPLANATORY PARAGRAPH: Imagine you say something, and no matter how much you want to take it back, you can’t. That’s what “irrevocable” means. It’s something that can’t be undone or changed, like a decision you can’t take back.
MEANING: Unable to be reversed or undone (adjective).
PRONUNCIATION: ih-REV-uh-kuh-bul
SYNONYMS: irreversible, unchangeable, permanent, binding, unalterable, final, fixed
USAGE EXAMPLES:
1. The judge’s decision was irrevocable and could not be appealed.
2. Once the contract is signed, it is irrevocable.
3. The harm caused by the accident was irrevocable.
4. Her decision to move abroad was irrevocable.
WORD-7: Inaugural
CONTEXT: His most lasting comment on his successor will be the one he reportedly delivered at the Capitol after Trump’s inaugural speech in 2017.
SOURCE: Guardian
EXPLANATORY PARAGRAPH: When you do something for the very first time, like when you ride your bike for the first time, that’s called “inaugural.” It means the first of many things to come.
MEANING: The first in a series of events or actions, usually marking the beginning of something important (adjective).
PRONUNCIATION: in-AW-gyuh-rul
SYNONYMS: first, initial, opening, introductory, maiden, debut, preliminary
USAGE EXAMPLES:
1. The president gave his inaugural speech after being elected.
2. The inaugural flight of the new airplane was a success.
3. She attended the inaugural event for the new art gallery.
4. The team won their inaugural game of the season.
WORD-8: Assortment
CONTEXT: She was married to an assortment of heirs, tycoons, actors, and a man she met in rehab.
SOURCE: Guardian
EXPLANATORY PARAGRAPH: Imagine a box with lots of different candies inside—some are red, some are green, and some are sour. That’s an “assortment.” It means a mix or collection of different things.
MEANING: A variety or mix of different items or types (noun).
PRONUNCIATION
: uh-SORT-ment
SYNONYMS: variety, collection, mix, selection, array, range, medley
USAGE EXAMPLES:
1. The store offers an assortment of toys for children.
2. She brought an assortment of cookies to the party.
3. The buffet had an assortment of dishes from around the world.
4. I love the assortment of colors in this painting.
WORD-9: Pinnacle
CONTEXT: For me, that was the pinnacle of her acting.
SOURCE: Guardian
EXPLANATORY PARAGRAPH: Imagine climbing a mountain, and when you get to the very top, you’ve reached the “pinnacle.” It means the highest or best point of something.
MEANING: The highest point or level of achievement or development (noun).
PRONUNCIATION: PIN-uh-kul
SYNONYMS: peak, summit, top, climax, apex, zenith, height
USAGE EXAMPLES:
1. Winning the championship was the pinnacle of his career.
2. The view from the pinnacle of the mountain was breathtaking.
3. Her novel is considered the pinnacle of modern literature.
4. Reaching the pinnacle of success takes years of hard work.
WORD-10: Despoiling
CONTEXT: The mutilating and despoiling of bodies, the pillaging and looting of homes.
SOURCE: The Washington Post
EXPLANATORY PARAGRAPH: Imagine if someone came and messed up your perfectly built sandcastle by knocking it down. That’s “despoiling.” It means taking away or ruining something valuable.
MEANING: The act of violently taking away or destroying the value of something (verb).
PRONUNCIATION: dih-SPOY-ling
SYNONYMS: plundering, robbing, ravaging, looting, destroying, ransacking, pillaging
USAGE EXAMPLES:
1. The invaders were despoiling the city, taking everything of value.
2. The environment is suffering due to the despoiling of natural resources.
3. They accused the company of despoiling the local wildlife habitat.
4. Despoiling ancient ruins is a crime against history.
