The Hindu Vocabulary 12 January 2026

2026-01-12

The vocabulary for The Hindu Editorial 12 January 2026 is from the Editorial titled “Inward turn: On the U.S.’s impending plunge into isolationism”.

Word/Phrase	Part of speech	Meaning	Synonyms	Antonyms	Sentence
Impend	Verb	To be about to happen; (usually of something bad) to loom or threaten. (सिर पर मँडराना)	Loom, Threaten, Approach, Menace, Near, Brew, Overhang, Advance, Hover, Arrive	Recede, Retreat, Depart, Fade, Vanish, Pass, Distant, Gone, End, Finish	The dark clouds suggested that a heavy storm was about to impend.
Plunge	Verb	To jump or dive quickly and energetically; a sudden violent decrease in value or amount. (डुबकी लगाना)	Dive, Drop, Fall, Descent, Plummet, Tumble, Submerge, Dip, Thrust, Pitch	Rise, Ascend, Soar, Climb, Increase, Surface, Emerge, Float, Grow, Advance	The stock market took a sharp plunge following the news of the war.
Isolationism	Noun	A policy of remaining apart from the affairs or interests of other groups or countries. (अलगाववाद)	Solitude, Detachment, Separation, Seclusion, Neutrality, Withdrawal, Independence, Insularity, Loneliness, Privacy	Internationalism, Globalism, Cooperation, Involvement, Integration, Partnership, Alliance, Connection, Unity, Participation	The country shifted from isolationism to active participation in global trade.
Predecessor	Noun	A person who held a job or office before the current holder; a thing that has been followed or replaced by another. (पूर्ववर्ती)	Ancestor, Forebear, Antecedent, Forefather, Pioneer, Former, Original, Precursor, Elder	Successor, Follower, Descendant, Heir, Replacement, Junior, Result, Sequel, Offspring	The new model of the car is much more fuel-efficient than its predecessor.
Engender	Verb	To cause or give rise to a feeling, situation, or condition. (पैदा करना)	Create, Cause, Produce, Generate, Provoke, Stimulate, Incite, Breed, Kindle, Foster	Destroy, Stop, Prevent, Halt, Quell, Extinguish, Kill, Finish, End, Stifle	The leader's speech was designed to engender hope among the citizens.
Surveillance	Noun	Close observation, especially of a suspected spy or criminal. (निगरानी)	Observation, Monitoring, Watch, Inspection, Supervision, Scrutiny, Vigilance, Guard, Reconnaissance, Survey	Neglect, Ignorance, Carelessness, Blindness, Disregard, Freedom, Privacy, Inattention	The bank is under constant video surveillance to prevent robberies.
Inevitable	Adjective	Certain to happen; unavoidable. (अनिवार्य)	Unavoidable, Certain, Sure, Fated, Destined, Imminent, Necessary, Inescapable, Fixed, Compulsory	Avoidable, Uncertain, Unlikely, Preventable, Doubtful, Optional, Distant, Evadable, Conditional, Fortuitous	Given the lack of preparation, a failure seemed inevitable.
Deleterious	Adjective	Causing harm or damage. (हानिकारक)	Harmful, Damaging, Toxic, Lethal, Injurious, Poisonous, Hurtful, Pernicious, Destructive, Adverse	Beneficial, Helpful, Harmless, Good, Advantageous, Safe, Healthy, Salubrious, Constructive, Kind	Smoking has a deleterious effect on a person's long-term health.
Orientation	Noun	The action of orienting someone or something relative to the points of a compass or other specified positions; an introduction to a new situation. (उन्मुखीकरण)	Alignment, Direction, Introduction, Positioning, Training, Adaptation, Familiarization, Placement, Location	Disorientation, Confusion, Disorder, Misalignment, Aimlessness, Deviation, Ignorance, Chaos, Drift	All new employees must attend a two-day orientation program.
Very	Verb	To differ in size, amount, degree, or nature from something else of the same general class. (भिन्न होना)	Change, Differ, Alter, Fluctuate, Diverge, Modify, Deviate, Transform, Swell, Shift	Remain, Stay, Persist, Conform, Match, Equal, Standardize, Stabilize, Sustain, Continue	The prices of vegetables vary depending on the season.
Modus operandi	Noun	A particular way or method of doing something, especially one that is characteristic or well-established. (कार्यप्रणाली)	Method, Procedure, System, Technique, Routine, Style, Strategy, Manner, Approach, Process	Chaos, Disorder, Randomness, Disorganization, Failure, Inaction, Aimlessness, Confusion, Irregularity	The thief’s modus operandi always involved entering through the kitchen window.
Halt	Verb	To bring or come to an abrupt stop. (ठहराव)	Stop, Cease, Pause, Terminate, Arrest, End, Block, Check, Desist, Standstill	Start, Continue, Advance, Proceed, Progress, Resume, Move, Accelerate, Forward, Persist	The government decided to halt the project until further safety checks were completed.