English Vocab

1. Recoup (verb): (Regain (something lost or expended) (पुनः प्राप्त करना/क्षति पूर्ति करना)

Synonyms: Get Back, Regain, Recover, Win Back, Retrieve, Repossess, Redeem.

Antonyms: Lose, Deprive.

Example: The airlines are adding a fuel surcharge to ticket prices in an effort to recoup their deficits caused by increased fuel prices.

Verb forms: Recoup, Recouped, Recouped.

2. Gordian knot (noun): (An extremely difficult or involved problem.) (कठिन समस्या)

Synonyms: Entanglement, Quagmire, Troublesome, Complexity.

Antonyms: Easiness, Solution.

Example: Homelessness for Rohingyas has become a real Gordian knot.

Origin: from the legend that Gordius, king of Gordium, tied an intricate knot and prophesied that whoever untied it would become the ruler of Asia. It was cut through with a sword by Alexander the Great.

 3. Pander (verb): gratify or indulge (an immoral or distasteful desire) (सन्तुष्ट करना/ख़ुश करना)

Synonyms: Gratify, Satiate, Please, Cater To. 

Antonyms: Anger, Annoy, Disappoint, Disturb, Frustrate, Upset.

Example: I hate reality shows because I believe they pander to people who enjoy watching immoral activities.

Verb forms: Pander, Pandered, Pandered.

4. Haphazard (adjective): (Lacking any obvious principle of organization.) (अस्थिर/आकस्मिक/बेढंग)

Synonyms: Random, Unplanned, Unsystematic, Unmethodical, Disorganized, Disorderly.

Antonyms: Systematic, Designed, Organized.

Example: The haphazard arrangement of different types of flowers created a surprisingly beautiful bouquet.

Related words:

Haphazardly (adverb) - बेतरतीबी से

5. Fallout (noun): The adverse results of a situation or action(secondary)./ a secondary and often lingering effect, result, or set of consequences. (प्रतिकूल परिणाम)

Synonyms: Side Effect, Aftermath, Repercussion, Corollary.

Antonyms: Cause, Origin.

Example: His vigorous election campaign showed that he was prepared to take calculated risks regardless of political fallout. 

6. Balkanization (noun): Process of fragmentation or division of a region or state into smaller regions or states that are often hostile or uncooperative with one another. (अलगाव)

Synonyms: Division, Fragmentation, Sectionalization, Segmentation.

Antonyms: Juncture, Union.

Example: Balkanization of large countries into several smaller nations often results in great divides, anger, and wars between neighbors for territory.

7. Cut corners (phrasal verb): (Do something perfunctorily so as to save time or money.) (किफ़ायत से करना)

Synonyms: Skimp, Economize, Pinch Pennies.

Antonyms: Spend, Squander, Throw Away.

Example: The director has to cut corners to make a film on such a small budget.

8. Exacerbate (verb): (Make (A problem, bad situation, or negative feeling) worse.) (बिगाड़ना)

Synonyms: Aggravate, Exasperate, Worsen, Embitter, Amplify the Worseness.

Antonyms: Alleviate, Improve.

Example: Not paying your taxes will only exacerbate your financial problems in the future.

Verb forms: Exacerbate, Exacerbated, Exacerbated.

Related words:

Exacerbation (noun) – तीव्रता/ प्रकोपन

Origin: from Latin exacerbare, from ex- (expressing inducement of a state) + acerbus ‘harsh, bitter’. 

9. Underpin (verb): (Support, justify, or form the basis for) (मजबूत करना/आधार लगाना)

Synonyms: Establish, Predicate, Be Foundation, Build.

Antonyms: Demolish, Destroy, Disestablish, Ruin.

Example: Habit of reading books always underpins one’s intellect.

Verb forms: Underpin, Underpinned, Underpinned.

10. Subvention (noun): (A grant of money, especially from a government.) (अनुदान/आर्थिक सहायता)

Synonyms: Subsidy, Concession, Gratuity, Grant (Of Money).

Antonyms: Denial, Refusal.

Example: During the drought, the government gave farmers a Subvention to help them stay in business.

Verb forms: Subvent, Subvented, Subvented.

Related words:

Subvent (verb) - आर्थिक समर्थन का वादा करना