The Hindu Vocabulary 22 January 2026

2026-01-22

The vocabulary for The Hindu Editorial 22 January 2026 is from the Editorial titled “Meaningless formality: On Governors, their actions”.

Word/Phrase	Part of speech	Meaning	Synonyms	Antonyms	Sentence
Formality	Noun	Something done simply to comply with rules or etiquette; a rigid observance of convention. (औपचारिकता)	Convention, Custom, Ritual, Ceremony, Protocol, Etiquette, Procedure, Rite, Solemnity, Properness	Informality, Casualness, Simplicity, Ease, Naturalness, Flexibility, Unconventionality, Laxity, Rudeness, Freedom	The interview was just a formality as the manager had already decided to hire him.
Customary	Adjective	According to the customs or usual practices associated with a particular society, place, or set of circumstances. (प्रथागत)	Usual, Traditional, Habitual, Normal, Regular, Routine, Standard, Common, Conventional	Unusual, Rare, Extraordinary, Strange, Unconventional, Abnormal, Exceptional, Novel, Irregular, Peculiar	In many cultures, it is customary to remove your shoes before entering a home.
Unsubstantiate	Adjective	Not supported or proven by evidence. (निराधार)	Unconfirmed, Unproven, Groundless, Baseless, Unsupported, Invalid, Questionable, Doubtful, False	Substantiated, Proven, Confirmed, Verified, Valid, Supported, Evident, Authentic, True, Justified	The newspaper was sued for publishing unsubstantiated claims about the celebrity’s private life.
Digress	Verb	To leave the main subject temporarily in speech or writing. (विषय से भटकना)	Deviate, Stray, Drift, Wander, Ramble, Depart, Diverge, Veer, Sidetrack, Excurse	Persist, Continue, Stay, Focus, Advance, Proceed, Align, Stick-to, Progress, Concentrate	The professor tended to digress into personal anecdotes during his history lectures.
Punctilious	Adjective	Showing great attention to detail or correct behavior. (अतिशिष्टाचारी)	Meticulous, Precise, Scrupulous, Formal, Exact, Methodical, Careful, Thorough, Proper, Correct	Careless, Negligent, Sloppy, Easygoing, Informal, Lax, Heedless, Unmeticulous, Slapdash, Perfunctory	He was punctilious about his appearance, always ensuring his suit was perfectly pressed.
Anachronism	Noun	A thing belonging or appropriate to a period other than that in which it exists, especially something that is old-fashioned. (कालभ्रम)	Misplacement, Solecism, Antiquity, Archaism, Prochronism, Error, Incongruity, Postdate, Relic, Artifact	Synchrony, Contemporaneity, Current, Modernity, Consistency, Newness, Update, Sequential, Fashionable, Modern	A smartphone appearing in a movie set in the 18th century is a clear anachronism
Repeal	Verb	To revoke or annul a law or congressional act. (रद्द करना)	Revoke, Rescind, Annul, Cancel, Nullify, Abrogate, Void, Withdraw, Invalidate, Abolish	Enact, Establish, Pass, Validate, Ratify, Sanction, Confirm, Introduce, Uphold, Legislate	The government decided to repeal the controversial tax law after widespread protests.
Envisage	Verb	To contemplate or conceive of as a possibility or a desirable future event. (परिकल्पना करना)	Imagine, Visualize, Foresee, Predict, Anticipate, Conceptualize, Picture, Fancy, Contemplate, View	Disregard, Ignore, Forget, Overlook, Recall, Experience, Materialize, Misunderstand, Dismiss, Neglect	It is difficult to envisage how the city will look fifty years from now.
Spirit	Noun	The non-physical part of a person; the prevailing mood or attitude of a specific time or place. (आत्मा)	Soul, Essence, Ghost, Character, Mood, Energy, Vitality, Courage, Will, Determination	Body, Flesh, Physicality, Lethargy, Apathy, Cowardice, Weakness, Dullness, Material	Although the team lost the game, their fighting spirit remained unbroken.
Retain	Verb	To continue to have something; keep possession of. (बनाए रखना)	Keep, Maintain, Preserve, Hold, Reserve, Save, Sustain, Cling, Cherish, Memorize	Lose, Release, Abandon, Relinquish, Drop, Discard, Forget, Give-up, Dismiss, Spend	The company struggled to retain its best employees due to low salary offers.
Regime	Noun	A government, especially an authoritarian one; a system or ordered way of doing things. (शासन)	Administration, Authority, Government, Rule, System, Management, Order, Scheme, Jurisdiction, Establishment	Anarchy, Chaos, Disorder, Lawlessness, Confusion, Rebellion, Freedom, Independence, Void, Disorganization	The old military regime was replaced by a democratically elected government.
Mislead	Verb	To cause someone to have a wrong idea or impression about someone or something. (गुमराह करना)	Deceive, Delude, Trick, Fool, Cheat, Bluff, Misinform, Bamboozle, Hoax, Dupe	Guide, Inform, Advise, Direct, Enlighten, Help, Support, Reveal, Truth, Assist	The advertisement was designed to mislead customers into thinking the product was free.