News Flashcards
gag order
a judicial ruling barring public disclosure or discussion (as by the press) of information related to a case
grant
to consent to carry out for a person
inflammatory
tending to excite anger, disorder, or tumult
infidelity
: 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
deluge
: an overwhelming amount or number
// received a deluge of angry phone calls
hinder
: to make slow or difficult the progress of
: to hold back
// Their journey was hindered by snow and high winds.
remuneration
: money paid for work or a service
// She was given generous remunerations for her work.
curtail
: 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
secular
: 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
incumbent
the holder of an office or ecclesiastical benefice
imposed as a duty
covertly
without being openly acknowledged or displayed; secretly
disinformation
: 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.
stave off
: to fend off; to prevent
// managed to stave off the invaders
// the quartermaster staved off a shortage by requisitioning more than enough supplies
consensus
: general agreement
// There is a general consensus among teachers about the need for greater security in schools
volatility
: liability to change rapidly and unpredictably, especially for the worse
// the volatility of the stock market
staggering
: so great as to cause one to stagger
// The storm caused a staggering amount of damage.
unbridled
: uncontrolled; unconstrained
// His father noticed his unbridled passion for football.
wane
: to decrease in size, extent, or degree
// Her enthusiasm for the whole idea was waning rapidly
rampant
: (especially of something unwelcome or unpleasant) flourishing or spreading unchecked
// rampant rumors
manifestation
: 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
be littered with
fill with examples of something unpleasant
cf. litter: trash
incalculable
too great to be calculated or estimated
calamity
an event causing great and often sudden damage or distress; disaster
ardent
: enthusiastic or passionate
: characterized by warmth of feeling typically expressed in eager zealous support or activity
// an ardent admirer
laissez-faire
: 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
repudiate
: to refuse to accept
// He has publicly repudiated the government’s policies.
sluggish
: slow-moving or inactive
// the sluggish pace of the project is worrisome
antitrust
: 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
succumb
: 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
allegedly
: 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
seditious
: 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
dissent
: difference of opinion
// Beijing imposed a similar law that had all but wiped out public dissent
clandestine
: kept secret or done secretivley, especially because illicit
// The clandestine operation has not been previously reported
efficacy
: 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
impersonate
: 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
antisemitism
: hostility to or prejudice against Jewish people
// Israeli funds target US college campuses and push to redefine antisemitism in US law
subside
: 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
