Daily Vocabulary from Leading Newspapers and Publications: August 17, 2024

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: TYRANT
CONTEXT: It’s lonely at the top. There are reasons for that. Long ago and far away, in the middle of the 5th-century BC, in a city on the Aegean in what has become Turkey, Herodotus told a story in his Histories. He wrote about Thrasybulus, the tyrant of Miletus, who took an ambassador from Corinth on a walk through the country. His conversation was meaningless, but his actions were not. “He kept cutting off all the tallest ears of wheat which he could see, and throwing them away, until the finest and best grown part of the crop was ruined.” To the tyrant in Corinth, it was obvious what Thrasybulus was up to. “He recommended the murder of all the people in the city who were outstanding in influence or ability.”
SOURCE: Psychology Today
EXPLANATORY PARAGRAPH: A tyrant is a ruler who has absolute power and uses it in a cruel or oppressive way. Imagine a leader who makes harsh decisions without caring about the well-being of the people—that’s what a tyrant does. It’s like being a very harsh boss who makes everyone’s life difficult.
MEANING: A ruler who uses power in a cruel and oppressive way (noun).
PRONUNCIATION: TIE-ruhnt
SYNONYMS: Despot, dictator, autocrat, oppressor, dictator, harsh ruler
USAGE EXAMPLES:
1. The ancient tyrant ruled with an iron fist, crushing any opposition.
2. Herodotus wrote about the tyrant Thrasybulus in his Histories.
3. The people rose up against the tyrant who had oppressed them for years.
4. A tyrant’s rule often leads to widespread suffering and rebellion.

WORD-2: EXILING
CONTEXT: A century later, Aristotle, who quoted Herodotus, got the point. In his Politics, he wrote: “Tyrants have borrowed the art of making war upon the notables and destroying them secretly or openly, or of exiling them because they are rivals and stand in the way of their power.” In short: “The prominent citizens must always be made away with.”
SOURCE: Psychology Today
EXPLANATORY PARAGRAPH: Exiling means sending someone away from their home or country, usually as a punishment. Think of it as forcing someone to leave their familiar place and live somewhere far away, often as a way to remove them from a position of power or influence.
MEANING: The act of sending someone away from their home or country as a punishment (verb).
PRONUNCIATION: EK-sy-ling
SYNONYMS: Banishment, deportation, expulsion, removal, exile, banishment
USAGE EXAMPLES:
1. The dictator exiled his political opponents to ensure his power.
2. After the revolution, many nobles were exiled from the country.
3. The king faced exile as a result of his unpopularity.
4. Exiling a leader is often used to eliminate a threat to power.

WORD-3: REHASHED
CONTEXT: Three centuries later, Livy, who taught the Roman emperor Claudius, and probably had read Aristotle or Herodotus, rehashed that advice. In Ab Urbe Condidta, his history “From the Founding of the City,” he had Tarquin, the last of the Roman kings, respond to another ambassador from Gabii, who wanted to know how to secure power. “He said not a word in reply to his question, but with a thoughtful air went out into his garden. The man followed him, and Tarquin, strolling up and down in silence, began knocking off poppy heads with his stick.”
SOURCE: Psychology Today
EXPLANATORY PARAGRAPH: Rehashed means to repeat or reuse something, often without adding anything new. Imagine taking an old story and telling it again exactly the same way—that’s rehashing. It’s like recycling old ideas instead of creating something fresh.
MEANING: To repeat or reuse something, often in a way that lacks originality (verb).
PRONUNCIATION: REH-asht
SYNONYMS: Recycled, reiterated, repeated, reused, retold, revisited
USAGE EXAMPLES:
1. The movie rehashed the same plot from previous films.
2. His presentation was just a rehashed version of his last speech.
3. The book rehashed old theories without offering new insights.
4. The news article rehashed the details of the previous report.

WORD-4: DILEMMA
CONTEXT: In the absence of any specific restriction against legislators and politicians practising before courts of law, legislator-lawyers often perform the dual role of law-making and representing their clients. This leads to a curious dilemma, at least in theory, of mixing politics with the law. While the two are not inseparable and eminent political persons have historically risen from the bar, the continuation of political activity while actively practising is a relatively recent trend.
SOURCE: The Indian Express
EXPLANATORY PARAGRAPH: A dilemma is a situation where you have to choose between two equally difficult or undesirable options. Imagine being stuck between two tough decisions where neither choice seems ideal—that’s a dilemma. It’s a tough spot where every option has its own set of problems.
MEANING: A situation requiring a choice between equally undesirable alternatives (noun).
PRONUNCIATION: di-LEM-uh
SYNONYMS: Quandary, predicament, problem, difficulty, issue, crossroads
USAGE EXAMPLES:
1. The committee faced a dilemma about how to allocate the budget.
2. She was caught in a dilemma between two job offers.
3. The ethical dilemma made the decision-making process very challenging.
4. A dilemma often arises when both choices have significant drawbacks.

WORD-5: EMINENT
CONTEXT: In the absence of any specific restriction against legislators and politicians practising before courts of law, legislator-lawyers often perform the dual role of law-making and representing their clients. This leads to a curious dilemma, at least in theory, of mixing politics with the law. While the two are not inseparable and eminent political persons have historically risen from the bar, the continuation of political activity while actively practising is a relatively recent trend.
SOURCE: The Indian Express
EXPLANATORY PARAGRAPH: Eminent means someone who is highly respected and distinguished in their field. Imagine a person who is at the top of their profession and is widely acknowledged for their achievements—that’s an eminent individual. It’s about standing out due to significant accomplishments or status.
MEANING: Highly respected and distinguished (adjective).
PRONUNCIATION: EM-uh-nuhnt
SYNONYMS: Distinguished, renowned, notable, respected, prominent, prestigious
USAGE EXAMPLES:
1. The eminent scientist received numerous awards for his contributions.
2. She is an eminent author with several bestsellers to her name.
3. The conference featured talks by eminent scholars from around the world.
4. His eminent career in law made him a highly sought-after advisor.

WORD-6: SYMPTOMATIC
CONTEXT: The allegations against the judiciary by senior advocate, former Union Law Minister and member of Rajya Sabha Kapil Sibal in a recent article (‘We Are Witnessing Undeclared Emergency & Courts Are Silent’, LiveLaw, November 27) are symptomatic of this problematic trend — one where political intervention in the judiciary is being normalised. The claim of the “courts being on trial” is a rather sophisticated blackmailing tool that ensures that any unfavourable decision can be easily derided. It cunningly questions the independence of the judiciary, inaccurately describes the core values that the judicial system upholds and seeks orders in particular judicial proceedings.
SOURCE: The Indian Express
EXPLANATORY PARAGRAPH: Symptomatic means showing signs or evidence of something, usually a problem or condition. If something is symptomatic, it indicates that there is a larger issue at play. Imagine a cough being symptomatic of a cold—it’s a sign that the cold is present.
MEANING: Showing symptoms of a particular illness or a situation (adjective)
PRONUNCIATION: SIMP-tuh-mat-ik
SYNONYMS: Indicative, revealing, suggestive, characteristic, telling, demonstrative
USAGE EXAMPLES:
1. The increased number of complaints was symptomatic of a larger problem within the company.
2. His symptoms were symptomatic of the flu.
3. The rash was symptomatic of an allergic reaction.
4. The pattern of behavior was symptomatic of deeper issues in the organization.

WORD-7: VULNERABILITIES
CONTEXT: Disability as an identity and entity exists at the intersection of multiple vulnerabilities — social, economic and gender — with each facet requiring careful consideration when conceptualising action for equity.
SOURCE: The Hindu
EXPLANATORY PARAGRAPH: Vulnerabilities refer to the weaknesses or susceptibilities that make someone or something open to harm or attack. Imagine having several weak spots that could be exploited—that’s what vulnerabilities are. They can be physical, social, or emotional.
MEANING: The quality or state of being exposed to the possibility of being attacked or harmed (noun)
PRONUNCIATION: vul-ner-uh-BIL-uh-teez
SYNONYMS: Weaknesses, susceptibilities, risks, flaws, dangers, exposed points
USAGE EXAMPLES:
1. The system’s vulnerabilities were exploited by hackers.
2. Addressing vulnerabilities is crucial for improving security.
3. The study highlighted the vulnerabilities faced by marginalized communities.
4. Identifying vulnerabilities helps in formulating effective protection strategies.

WORD-8: EQUIVALENT
CONTEXT: Globally, 1.3 billion people (which is equivalent to nearly the entire population of India) live with some form of disability. Of them, 80% live in developing countries; further, 70% of them live in rural areas. Current systems are designed for persons without disabilities and end up being exclusionary to people with disabilities, resulting in them experiencing higher instances of poverty, lack of access to education and opportunities, informality and other forms of social and economic discrimination.
SOURCE: The Hindu
EXPLANATORY PARAGRAPH: Equivalent means having the same value, function, or meaning as something else. If two things are equivalent, they are equal in some way. Imagine having two different currencies that are worth the same amount—those currencies are equivalent.
MEANING: Equal in value, amount, function, or meaning (Adjective)
PRONUNCIATION: i-KWIV-uh-luhnt
SYNONYMS: Equal, equivalent, comparable, commensurate, similar, tantamount
USAGE EXAMPLES:
1. The two job positions are equivalent in terms of responsibilities.
2. Her achievements are equivalent to those of a world champion.
3. The value of the two assets is equivalent.
4. This amount of money is equivalent to the cost of a new car.

WORD-9: PERSONAS
CONTEXT: Globally, 1.3 billion people (which is equivalent to nearly the entire population of India) live with some form of disability. Of them, 80% live in developing countries; further, 70% of them live in rural areas. Current systems are designed for persons without disabilities and end up being exclusionary to people with disabilities, resulting in them experiencing higher instances of poverty, lack of access to education and opportunities, informality and other forms of social and economic discrimination.
SOURCE: The Hindu
EXPLANATORY PARAGRAPH: Personas are fictional characters created to represent different user types or groups. Think of personas as detailed profiles of imagined people that help businesses or designers understand and meet the needs of various user groups. They’re like avatars that represent the characteristics of a larger group.
MEANING: The aspects of someone’s character that they show to others; roles or characters taken on by people (Noun)
PRONUNCIATION: per-SO-nuhz
SYNONYMS: Profiles, characters, archetypes, models, representations, avatars
USAGE EXAMPLES:
1. The marketing team developed personas to better understand their target audience.
2. Personas are useful in designing user-friendly interfaces.
3. Each persona represents a different segment of the customer base.
4. The personas helped the team tailor their product to diverse needs.

WORD-10: INCLUSION
CONTEXT: According to the English dictionary, “For” is often used when a person is receiving something and “By” is to “identify the agent performing an action”. This difference is crucial when it comes to disability inclusion, as the approach is completely different if it is “by” persons with disabilities being a part of the process and not “for” them, without them in the process.
SOURCE: The Hindu
EXPLANATORY PARAGRAPH: Inclusion means the practice of making sure that everyone has equal access and opportunities, regardless of their background or circumstances. It’s about ensuring that no one is left out or excluded. Imagine a team where everyone’s ideas and needs are valued equally—that’s inclusion.
MEANING: The practice of including everyone and ensuring equal access and opportunities (noun).
PRONUNCIATION: in-KLOO-zhun
SYNONYMS: Integration, participation, acceptance, involvement, inclusiveness, incorporation
USAGE EXAMPLES:
1. The company is committed to inclusion in its hiring practices.
2. Inclusion of people with disabilities is essential for a fair society.
3. The program promotes inclusion by providing support for all participants.
4. Effective inclusion strategies ensure that everyone feels valued and included.