News

Question 1

gag order

Answer 1

a judicial ruling barring public disclosure or discussion (as by the press) of information related to a case

Question 2

grant

Answer 2

to consent to carry out for a person

Question 3

inflammatory

Answer 3

tending to excite anger, disorder, or tumult

Question 4

infidelity

Answer 4

: the act or fact of having a romantic or sexual relationship with someone other than one’s husband, wife, or partner

// She was convinced that her husband was guilty of infidelity

Question 5

deluge

Answer 5

: an overwhelming amount or number

// received a deluge of angry phone calls

Question 6

hinder

Answer 6

: to make slow or difficult the progress of
: to hold back

// Their journey was hindered by snow and high winds.

Question 7

remuneration

Answer 7

: money paid for work or a service

// She was given generous remunerations for her work.

Question 8

curtail

Answer 8

: to make less by or as if by cutting off or away some part
: reduce

// Some school activities are being curtailed due to a lack of funds

Question 9

secular

Answer 9

: of or relating to the worldly or temporal
: of or relating to a long term of indefinite duration

// Both secular and religious institutions can apply for the funds

Question 10

incumbent

Answer 10

the holder of an office or ecclesiastical benefice

imposed as a duty

Question 11

covertly

Answer 11

without being openly acknowledged or displayed; secretly

Question 12

disinformation

Answer 12

: false information deliberately and often covertly spread (as by the planting of rumors) in order to influence public opinion or obscure the truth

// The government used disinformation to gain support for the policy.

Question 13

stave off

Answer 13

: to fend off; to prevent

// managed to stave off the invaders
// the quartermaster staved off a shortage by requisitioning more than enough supplies

Question 14

consensus

Answer 14

: general agreement

// There is a general consensus among teachers about the need for greater security in schools

Question 15

volatility

Answer 15

: liability to change rapidly and unpredictably, especially for the worse

// the volatility of the stock market

Question 16

staggering

Answer 16

: so great as to cause one to stagger

// The storm caused a staggering amount of damage.

Question 17

unbridled

Answer 17

: uncontrolled; unconstrained

// His father noticed his unbridled passion for football.

Question 18

wane

Answer 18

: to decrease in size, extent, or degree

// Her enthusiasm for the whole idea was waning rapidly

Question 19

rampant

Answer 19

: (especially of something unwelcome or unpleasant) flourishing or spreading unchecked

// rampant rumors

Question 20

manifestation

Answer 20

: an event, action, or object that clearly shows or embodies something, especially a theory or an abstract idea

// The riots are a clear manifestation of the people’s discontent

Question 21

be littered with

Answer 21

fill with examples of something unpleasant

cf. litter: trash

Question 22

incalculable

Answer 22

too great to be calculated or estimated

Question 23

calamity

Answer 23

an event causing great and often sudden damage or distress; disaster

Question 24

ardent

Answer 24

: enthusiastic or passionate
: characterized by warmth of feeling typically expressed in eager zealous support or activity

// an ardent admirer

Question 25

laissez-faire

Answer 25

: a doctrine opposing governmental interference in economic affairs beyond the minimum necessary for the maintenance of peace and property rights // argued that the problem with oil prices was too much *laissez-faire*

Question 26

repudiate

Answer 26

: to refuse to accept // He has publicly *repudiated* the government's policies.

Question 27

sluggish

Answer 27

: slow-moving or inactive // the *sluggish* pace of the project is worrisome

Question 28

antitrust

Answer 28

: relating to legislation preventing or controlling trusts or other monopolies, with the intention of promoting competition in business // The report is expected to be presented this week to a congressional hearing on *antitrust* abuses by Big Tech firms

Question 29

succumb

Answer 29

: to yield to superior strength or force or overpowering appeal or desire // After watching two partners *succumb* to cancer, Jackson is now a vigorous proponent of the legislation

Question 30

allegedly

Answer 30

: used to convey that something is claimed to be the case or have taken place, although there is no proof // Six people were arrested for *allegedly* publishing seditious social media posts

Question 31

seditious

Answer 31

: inciting or causing people to rebel against the authority of a state or monarch // Hong Kong police arrested six people for allegedly publishing *seditious* social media posts

Question 32

dissent

Answer 32

: difference of opinion // Beijing imposed a similar law that had all but wiped out public *dissent*

Question 33

clandestine

Answer 33

: kept secret or done secretivley, especially because illicit // The *clandestine* operation has not been previously reported

Question 34

efficacy

Answer 34

: the ability to produce a desired or intended result // It aimed to sow doubt about the safety and *efficacy* of vaccines and other life-saving aid that was being supplied by China

Question 35

impersonate

Answer 35

: pretend to be (another person) as entertainment or in order to deceive someone // Through phony internet accounts meant to *impersonate* Filipinos, the military’s propaganda efforts morphed into an anti-vax campaign

Question 36

antisemitism

Answer 36

: hostility to or prejudice against Jewish people // Israeli funds target US college campuses and push to redefine *antisemitism* in US law

Question 37

subside

Answer 37

: become less intense, violent or severe // Seconds after a smoke alarm *subsided* during the hearing, Chikli assured the lawmakers that there was new money in the budget // I'll wait a few minutes until the storm *subsides*