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Writer's picturegorkemcaglarsayan

50 Must-Know Words for Better Understanding of News Articles

Updated: Dec 4, 2023

Readers of news articles leverage their extensive vocabulary to comprehend the content.

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.





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