Daily Vocabulary from Indian Newspapers and Publications
Welcome to Wordpandit’s Indian Vocabulary Hub
At Wordpandit, we understand the importance of staying rooted in the local context while expanding your language skills. This section focuses on enriching your vocabulary with words and phrases drawn from India’s leading newspapers and publications, ensuring you're learning vocabulary that is practical, relevant, and uniquely Indian.
Why Indian Sources Matter
We believe that the best way to master any language is by immersing yourself in local content. That’s why we carefully curate vocabulary from top Indian publications, including:
- The Hindu
- The Times of India
- The Economic Times
- Hindustan Times
- Live Mint
- The Indian Express
- And many others...
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With daily updates from Indian news sources, you’ll be consistently learning words that reflect the trends and shifts in Indian society and culture. Our focus is to provide vocabulary that enhances your understanding of the language in an Indian context.
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Whether you’re preparing for exams, aiming to improve your professional communication, or simply want to stay connected with the latest Indian vocabulary, Wordpandit is here to guide you every step of the way.
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Our interactive learning methodology includes real-world examples, engaging activities, and context-specific usage to ensure that every word becomes part of your active vocabulary.
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Your Path to Vocabulary Mastery
- Visit our Daily Vocabulary section regularly
- Explore new words and their usage in context
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Embark on your vocabulary enhancement journey with Wordpandit. By consistently engaging with our daily posts, you'll build a robust vocabulary that serves you well in academic, professional, and personal contexts.
Remember, a word a day keeps linguistic limitations at bay. Make Wordpandit your daily companion in the quest for vocabulary excellence!
WORD-1: Predecessor
Context:
"In a year of elections around the world, here is one where the incumbent president calls his predecessor a Nazi." - Indian Express
Explanatory Paragraph:
The term "predecessor" refers to someone who held a position or role before someone else. It’s often used in political or professional contexts to talk about individuals who came before the current person in office or in a job. In the sentence above, it is used to highlight a political tension between a current leader and the one who came before.
Meaning: A person who held a job or office before the current holder (Noun)
Pronunciation: PREH-duh-sess-er
Difficulty Level: ⭐⭐ Easy
Etymology: From Latin "praedecessor", meaning "one who has gone before", from "prae-" (before) + "decessor" (retiring official).
Prashant Sir's Notes:
A very commonly tested word in political or corporate contexts. Remember: a predecessor is someone who held the position *before* you, not after.
Synonyms & Antonyms:
Synonyms: forerunner, antecedent, precursor, former holder
Antonyms: successor, descendant, inheritor
Usage Examples:
- The new CEO praised her predecessor for stabilizing the company during difficult times.
- This phone model is faster and sleeker than its predecessor.
- He followed in the footsteps of his predecessor, maintaining many of the same policies.
- Unlike his predecessor, the new mayor is focused on environmental reforms.
Cultural Reference:
"Barack Obama and his predecessor George W. Bush have both commented on the importance of peaceful transitions of power." - Public Discourse
Think About It:
How does the legacy of a predecessor influence the decisions and perception of the successor in leadership roles?
Quick Activity:
Write a short paragraph comparing a famous leader and their predecessor. Focus on one area like economic policy or communication style.
Memory Tip:
Think: "pre" means before, so your "predecessor" came before you in the role.
Real-World Application:
The term "predecessor" is widely used in politics, business transitions, product development (like tech gadgets), and even academic roles to indicate someone who previously held a position or role.
WORD-2: Hounding
Context:
"The current establishment is hounding the former president with a bunch of criminal cases." - Indian Express
Explanatory Paragraph:
"Hounding" refers to aggressively or persistently pursuing or harassing someone, often in a way that feels relentless or unfair. It comes from the idea of hunting someone down like a dog would chase a target. In the context above, it implies that the current government is targeting the former president in an intense, possibly vindictive manner by pursuing multiple legal actions.
Meaning: To harass, persecute, or pursue relentlessly (Verb - Present participle form)
Pronunciation: HOWN-ding
Difficulty Level: ⭐⭐⭐ Intermediate
Etymology: Derived from the word "hound," meaning a dog trained for hunting; used metaphorically to describe aggressive pursuit since the 15th century.
Prashant Sir's Notes:
Very visual word—imagine dogs chasing down a target. When someone is being "hounded," they are being chased in a similar relentless fashion, often emotionally or legally.
Synonyms & Antonyms:
Synonyms: harassing, persecuting, chasing, pestering, tormenting
Antonyms: ignoring, overlooking, sparing, comforting
Usage Examples:
- The paparazzi kept hounding the actor despite repeated requests for privacy.
- He felt like he was being hounded by creditors after losing his job.
- The opposition accused the government of hounding dissenters into silence.
- Social media users began hounding the brand over its controversial advertisement.
Cultural Reference:
"Princess Diana was constantly hounded by the media, which many believe contributed to her tragic death." - Public Memory & Media Studies
Think About It:
Where should we draw the line between legal accountability and political hounding?
Quick Activity:
List two scenarios—one where someone is being fairly investigated, and one where someone is being unfairly hounded. What makes the difference?
Memory Tip:
Think of a "hound dog" constantly barking and chasing. To be "hounded" is to be chased or harassed in the same nagging way.
Real-World Application:
The term "hounding" is commonly used in media, politics, and legal discussions to describe excessive pursuit—whether by the press, legal authorities, or social groups—often seen as unfair or aggressive.
WORD-3: Ronunciation
Context:
"It was handpicked by the company’s founders for its lively ring and ease in ronunciation." - Times of India
Explanatory Paragraph:
The word "ronunciation" appears to be a typographical error or misspelling of the word "pronunciation." In the context, the sentence is clearly referring to how easy it is to say or articulate a name, which matches the meaning of "pronunciation." Therefore, we'll treat this as a correction and explain the word "pronunciation."
Meaning: The way in which a word is spoken or articulated (Noun)
Pronunciation: pro-nun-see-AY-shun
Difficulty Level: ⭐⭐ Easy
Etymology: From Latin "pronuntiationem," meaning "a proclaiming, announcing," later used to mean "manner of speaking."
Prashant Sir's Notes:
This word is often mispronounced as "pro-noun-ciation" due to the spelling of the word "pronounce." But remember—it's "pronunciation" without the "ou" sound. Also, the typo “ronunciation” is a good reminder of how often we mishear or misspell common words!
Synonyms & Antonyms:
Synonyms: articulation, enunciation, speech
Antonyms: mispronunciation, mumbling, slurring
Usage Examples:
- The teacher corrected his pronunciation of the French word.
- She practiced her speech to perfect the pronunciation of difficult terms.
- Accurate pronunciation is essential for effective communication.
- He was embarrassed by his mispronunciation during the presentation.
Cultural Reference:
"My Fair Lady," a classic musical, features a professor teaching a flower girl proper pronunciation to pass as a duchess.
Think About It:
Why do you think pronunciation plays such a key role in shaping how people perceive our intelligence or background?
Quick Activity:
Pick five commonly mispronounced words and look up their correct pronunciations. Try using them in a short speech.
Memory Tip:
Remember: "Pronunciation" comes from "pronounce," but loses the "ou" in spelling—watch out for that!
Real-World Application:
Good pronunciation is essential in interviews, public speaking, language learning, and communication across cultures—it boosts clarity and confidence.
WORD-4: Retaliating
Context:
"The Opposition accuses the government of weaponising law to keep the popular former president off the ballot and is retaliating by preparing to impeach the president." - Indian Express
Explanatory Paragraph:
"Retaliating" refers to the act of responding to a perceived wrong or attack with an action intended to harm or punish in return. It's closely related to the idea of revenge, though it can also be seen as self-defense or counteraction. In the sentence above, the opposition party is responding to what it sees as an unjust legal move by taking its own political action—an attempt to impeach the president.
Meaning: To make an attack or assault in return for a similar attack (Verb - Present participle)
Pronunciation: ri-TAL-ee-ay-ting
Difficulty Level: ⭐⭐⭐ Intermediate
Etymology: From Latin *retaliare*, meaning "to repay in kind, pay back one injury for another."
Prashant Sir's Notes:
Important to distinguish: retaliating is reactive, not proactive. It's about hitting back—politically, emotionally, physically. In exams, it can be used in social, legal, or diplomatic contexts.
Synonyms & Antonyms:
Synonyms: responding, counterattacking, avenging, striking back, reciprocating
Antonyms: forgiving, yielding, ignoring, tolerating
Usage Examples:
- The company is retaliating against the whistleblower by filing lawsuits.
- Instead of retaliating, she chose to walk away from the argument.
- Retaliating with violence only escalated the conflict further.
- The country is retaliating with trade sanctions after being hit with tariffs.
Cultural Reference:
"An eye for an eye will only make the whole world blind." – A quote often attributed to Mahatma Gandhi, reminding us that retaliating may not lead to resolution.
Think About It:
Is retaliation ever justified, or does it always risk continuing a cycle of conflict?
Quick Activity:
Think of a time you felt like retaliating. Write a sentence about it using the word "retaliating" and then reframe the situation with a more peaceful response.
Memory Tip:
Retaliate sounds like “re-hit”—you hit back when someone hits you. Easy way to remember: “RE” = again, “TAL” = attack.
Real-World Application:
Used often in political, legal, and international contexts, "retaliating" describes how groups or nations respond to perceived injustices—whether through policy, protest, or action.
WORD-5: Illegitimate
Context:
"The top court has got into the act, but whatever its decision, a large section of the deeply polarised society will see it as illegitimate and politically motivated." - Indian Express
Explanatory Paragraph:
"Illegitimate" refers to something that is not in accordance with accepted rules, standards, or laws. It can imply lack of legal standing or moral justification. In the context above, it suggests that no matter what the court decides, many people will view the ruling as lacking fairness or legality, possibly influenced by politics rather than justice.
Meaning: Not authorized by law; not in accordance with accepted standards or rules (Adjective)
Pronunciation: il-uh-JIT-uh-mit
Difficulty Level: ⭐⭐⭐ Intermediate
Etymology: From Latin *illegitimus* — "not lawful, not according to law" (*il-* meaning “not” + *legitimus*, meaning “lawful”)
Prashant Sir's Notes:
This word often appears in legal, political, and moral contexts. It’s useful to note both its formal (legal) and informal (moral or emotional) usage. Be aware of the tone—it’s a strong word that questions authority or authenticity.
Synonyms & Antonyms:
Synonyms: unlawful, invalid, unauthorized, improper, baseless
Antonyms: legitimate, lawful, valid, authorized, justified
Usage Examples:
- Many voters considered the election results illegitimate due to widespread allegations of fraud.
- The court struck down the law as illegitimate and unconstitutional.
- Some critics see the policy as an illegitimate use of executive power.
- The regime was labeled illegitimate by the international community after a military coup.
Cultural Reference:
The term “illegitimate” was historically used to refer to children born outside of marriage, but in modern discourse, it's more often applied to systems, governments, or decisions lacking moral or legal authority.
Think About It:
What makes an action or decision feel "illegitimate" to people even if it follows legal procedure?
Quick Activity:
Think of a controversial decision (court ruling, election, or policy) from your country. Write two sentences: one explaining why some see it as legitimate, and another why others see it as illegitimate.
Memory Tip:
Break it down: “Il-” means “not” and “legitimate” means “lawful or accepted.” So “illegitimate” = not lawful or not acceptable.
Real-World Application:
"Illegitimate" is frequently used in political discourse, legal debates, and media narratives to challenge the credibility or fairness of systems, leaders, or judgments. Understanding its weight can help decode bias in public opinion or reporting.
