1. Thwart (Verb)
- Definition: Oppose (a plan, attempt, or ambition) successfully.
- Synonyms: Foil, Frustrate, Balk
- Antonyms: Assist, Facilitate
- Usage: It is no secret that Mr. Mukherjee’s political ambitions were thwarted at one point by his inability to break the hold of dynastic politics in the Congress.
2. Decry (Verb)
- Definition: Publicly denounce.
- Synonyms: Denounce, Condemn, Criticize, Censure
- Antonyms: Praise, Overrate
- Usage: The FBI Director, a Trump appointee, was among the senior functionaries who decried the governmental dysfunction.
3. Prolong (Verb)
- Definition: Extend the duration of.
- Synonyms: Lengthen, Elongate
- Antonyms: Shorten
- Usage: If the Trump team had hoped a prolonged government shutdown would break the Democratic Party’s rank and file, it didn’t happen.
4. Internecine (Adjective)
- Definition: Destructive to both sides in a conflict.
- Synonyms: Bloody, Sanguinary, Sanguine
- Antonyms: Beneficial, Restorative, Salubrious, Salutary
- Usage: few enemies to suspend the internecine disputes within the opposition.
5. Revitalize (Verb)
- Definition: Imbue (something) with new life and vitality.
- Synonyms: Reinvigorate, Re-Energize, Brace, Fortify, Strengthen
- Antonyms: Depress
- Usage: her failing health has been revitalized with the help of a good diet.
6. Pauperize (Verb)
- Definition: Make very poor; impoverish.
- Synonyms: Beggar
- Antonyms: Rich
- Usage: MrMaduro’s incompetence has pauperised Venezuelans, forcing around a tenth of the population to emigrate.
7. Plunge (Verb)
- Definition: Fall suddenly and uncontrollably.
- Synonyms: Crash, Plummet, Pitch, Drop, Fall
- Antonyms: Ascent, Climb, Rise, Rising
- Usage: Venezuela plunges from one catastrophic crisis to another.
8. Grapple (Verb)
- Definition: Seize hold of (someone).
- Synonyms: Seize, Grab, Grip, Hold, Grasp, Clasp, Clench
- Antonyms: Release
- Usage: Venezuela has grappled with an economic and political crisis of its own making for almost two years now.
9. Brute (Adjective)
- Definition: having or showing the desire to inflict severe pain and suffering on others.
- Synonyms: Atrocious, Barbaric, Barbarous, Brutal
- Antonyms: Merciful, Pitying, Pacific, Peaceable, Peaceful
- Usage: The government used brute force to suppress them, while the economic situation deteriorated.
10. Boycott (verb)
- Definition: Withdraw from commercial or social relations with (a country, organization, or person) as a punishment or protest.
- Synonyms: Spurn, Snub
- Antonyms: Support, Approve of
- Usage: The main opposition boycotted last year’s presidential election, which Mr. Maduro won with 67.8% vote.
