Newspaper articles can be a great source of new words and phrases that can help you build and enrich your vocabulary. However, it can be difficult to understand the meaning of certain words when reading news articles that use more advanced vocabulary. To help you with this, we've compiled a list of 50 advanced words that commonly appear in news articles. These words are carefully selected from different fields such as politics, economics, and social issues, and they are aimed to help you understand the meaning of words and their context of usage. Here are 50 words to understand news articles better.
Happy learning!
1. allegation /ˌalɪˈɡeɪʃn/
noun
a claim or assertion that something is true, typically one that is made without evidence or proof
Example: The senator denied the allegations of misconduct made against him.
2. ally /ˈalʌɪ/
noun
a country or organization that has a formal agreement to give support to another in a particular area
Example: The two countries have been allies for many years.
3. backlash /ˈbaklaʃ/
noun
a strong negative reaction to a particular event or situation
Example: The government's new policy on immigration has faced a strong backlash from civil rights groups and members of the opposition party.
4. bamboozle /bamˈbuːzl/
noun
deceive or cheat (someone) by being dishonest or tricky
Example: He was accused of bamboozling investors out of their money.
5. bigot /ˈbɪɡət/
noun
a prejudiced person who is intolerant of any opinions differing from his own
Example: After a series of controversial tweets targeting immigrants, the popular influencer faced widespread backlash and was labeled a bigot by many in the online community.
6. calamity /kəˈlamɪti/
noun
a sudden, unexpected disaster or misfortune
Example: The city was left in a state of calamity after the devastating tornado, with widespread destruction and numerous injuries reported.
7. ceasefire /ˈsiːsfʌɪə/
noun
an agreement to stop fighting in a war or conflict
Example: Both sides agreed to a ceasefire to allow for peace negotiations.
8. coercive /kəʊˈəːsɪv/
adjective
using force or threats to make someone do something
Example: The company's management was accused of using coercive tactics to force employees to sign the new contract.
9. compel /kəmˈpɛl/
verb
to force or obligate someone to do something
Example: The government's new regulations compelled all businesses to provide paid sick leave to their employees.
10. consensus /kənˈsɛnsəs/
noun
general agreement or concord; a position or decision reached by a group as a whole
Example: The consensus among scientists is that climate change is real and caused by human activities.
11. covert /ˈkəʊvəːt/
adjective
acting or operating in a secret or hidden way
Example: The government implemented a covert operation to gather intelligence on the enemy.
12. curtail /kəːˈteɪl/
verb
to reduce or limit something, usually in size or extent
Example: The government announced plans to curtail carbon emissions from power plants to address the growing concerns about climate change.
13. debacle /deɪˈbɑːk(ə)l/
noun
a complete failure or collapse, typically in a dramatic or disastrous way
Example: The entire event planning was a debacle, as everything that could go wrong, went wrong, and the organizers were heavily criticized for their poor management.
14. demagogue /ˈdɛməɡɒɡ/
noun
a leader who uses emotions and popular beliefs to gain support, instead of using reason or evidence
Example: He was criticized for being a demagogue who exploited people's fears for his own gain.
15. denounce /dɪˈnaʊns/
verb
publicly condemn or criticize (someone or something).
Example: The opposition party leader denounced the government's corruption scandals during a press conference.
16. detention /dɪˈtɛnʃn/
noun
the state of being kept in a place of confinement, typically in a prison or a police station
Example: He was held in detention while the police investigated the crime.
17. disparaging /dɪˈsparɪdʒɪŋ/
adjective
expressing or implying a low opinion
Example: The CEO faced criticism for making disparaging comments about the company's competitors during a recent earnings call.
18. dissent /dɪˈsɛnt/
verb
to refuse or disagree with a particular idea, belief or group
Example: Several members of the committee dissented from the majority's recommendation on the issue.
19. dwindle /ˈdwɪndl/
verb
to become smaller or fewer in number
Example: The number of endangered species dwindled significantly due to habitat destruction
20. embezzlement: /ɪmˈbɛzlm(ə)nt/
noun
the theft of money or property that has been entrusted to one's care
Example: The former employee was charged with embezzlement after an investigation revealed she had taken money from the company.
21. evade /ɪˈveɪd/
verb
to escape or avoid (something), especially by using cleverness or cunning
Example: The suspect is accused of evading police by using a false identity to escape custody.
22. hypocrisy /hɪˈpɒkrəsi/
noun
the act of pretending to have beliefs, opinions, or qualities that one does not actually have
Example: The government faced criticism for promoting human rights abroad while violating them at home, a clear display of hypocrisy.
23. illicit /ɪˈlɪsɪt/
adjective
illegal or against the law
Example: He was caught with an illicit substance and was arrested by the police.
24. impose /ɪmˈpəʊz/
verb
force (something) to be accepted or put in place
Example: The government imposed new taxes to fund infrastructure projects.
25. impoverished /ɪmˈpɒv(ə)rɪʃt/
adjective
very poor
Example: The country's economy left many citizens impoverished.
26. infringe /ɪnˈfrɪn(d)ʒ/
verb
to violate or break a rule, law, or agreement
Example: The new policy infringes on individual rights and has sparked widespread protest.
27. integrity /ɪnˈtɛɡrɪti/
noun
the quality of being honest and having strong moral principles; moral uprightness
Example: Sara's reputation for honesty and integrity made her the ideal candidate for the job.
28. intervention /ˌɪntəˈvɛnʃn/
noun
an act or a process in which a person or an organization steps in to address or manage a situation or problem
Example: The international community is considering an intervention to stop the ongoing conflict.
29. liability /ˌlʌɪəˈbɪlɪti/
noun
being legally responsible for something
Example: The CEO took full liability for the company's recent losses, promising to make necessary changes to turn things around.
30. lucrative /ˈl(j)uːkrətɪv/
adjective
producing a lot of profit or financial gain.
Example: The tech industry is full of lucrative business opportunities, attracting entrepreneurs and investors from around the world.
31. mandate /ˈmandeɪt/
verb
to give an official order or authorization for something to be done
Example: The government mandated all companies to provide paid leave for their employees.
32. mediocrity /ˌmiːdɪˈɒkrɪti/
noun
the state or quality of being average, ordinary, or not exceptional
Example: A new study found that mediocrity in the workforce can lead to a decline in company profits and overall success.
33. oust /aʊst/
verb
To force someone out of a position of power
Example: The board of directors voted to oust the former chairman because of mismanagement and declining profits
34. pervasive /pəˈveɪsɪv/
adjective
widespread and affecting a large number of people or things
Example: The pervasive problem of income inequality has been a major issue in the country for decades.
35. plunge /plʌn(d)ʒ/
verb
To decrease suddenly and sharply in value, amount, or quality
Example: The stock market plunged after the release of the company's quarterly earnings report.
36. polarization /ˌpəʊlərʌɪˈzeɪʃn/
noun
the division of a group or society into opposing factions or ideologies
Example: The political polarization in the country is causing a government shutdown.
37. rampant /ˈramp(ə)nt/
adjective
widespread and uncontrolled, especially in a harmful way
Example: Rampant inflation has been driving prices up, making it difficult for consumers to afford basic necessities.
38. ratify /ˈratɪfʌɪ/
verb
to give formal consent or approval to a treaty, agreement, contract, or law by signing or formal vote
Example: The government has decided to ratify the new trade agreement, which will bring more economic benefits to the country.
39. ridicule /ˈrɪdɪkjuːl/
verb
the act of mocking or making fun of someone
Example: The manager was criticized for his habit of openly ridiculing others in front of their colleagues.
40. sanction /ˈsaŋ(k)ʃn/
noun
an official or legal measure that restricts or prohibits certain actions
Example: The government imposed economic sanctions on the country to pressure them to change their policies.
41. scapegoat /ˈskeɪpɡəʊt/
noun
a person or group that is blamed for the errors of others
Example: The company's management team found a scapegoat to blame for the failed project instead of taking responsibility for their own mistakes.
42. segregation /ˌsɛɡrɪˈɡeɪʃn/
noun
the separation of people or things into distinct groups or categories.
Example: The laws enforcing racial segregation have been abolished.
43. sovereign /ˈsɒvr(ɪ)n/
adjective
having supreme power or authority
Example: The sovereign nation makes its own laws and conducts its own foreign policy.
44. squander /ˈskwɒndə/
verb
to waste or use in a careless manner
Example: The company squandered millions on ineffective advertising campaigns.
45. staggering /ˈstaɡ(ə)rɪŋ/
adjective
surprisingly large or impressive in amount or size
Example: The staggering cost of the new bridge project has sparked concerns among local residents and officials.
46. surge /səːdʒ/
noun
a sudden, large increase
Example: Sales of electric vehicles have seen a surge in popularity as consumers look for more eco-friendly transportation options.
47. suspend /səˈspɛnd/
verb
temporarily prevent (someone) from holding a particular office or doing a particular job
Example: The government has suspended the import tax on essential goods to alleviate financial pressure on citizens.
48. tyranny /ˈtɪrəni/
noun
cruel and oppressive government or rule
Example: The people were suffering under the tyranny of the dictator.
49. verdict /ˈvəːdɪkt/
noun
a decision on an issue made by a jury in a court of law, or by a judge in a non-jury trial
Example: The jury returned a verdict of guilty on all charges.
50. warfare /ˈwɔːfɛː/
noun
military operations between countries or different groups within a country
Example: The warfare between the two countries lasted for several years.
