10 September 2026 | FREE Editorial PDF

Word Power

Date: 10-Sep-2026

MockToOfficer.in — Daily Vocabulary & Editorial SeriesWebsite: mocktoofficer.in  |  YouTube  |  Telegram  |  Instagram | Android App

All words from today’s editorials, in one place.

EDITORIAL 1: FALLING EDIFICE: ON THE DELHI PRIVATE HOSTEL BUILDING COLLAPSE

Source: The Hindu

Vocabulary

Vocabs	Simple Meaning	Synonym	Antonym
Haphazard	Lacking any obvious organisation or order; random	Disorganised	Systematic
Simple Example: The editorial blames haphazard development in Delhi’s residential colonies for the tragedy.
Abutting	Being next to or adjoining something	Adjoining	Distant
Simple Example: The hostel stood in a densely populated colony abutting Delhi University’s South Campus.
Absolved	Freed from a duty or responsibility; declared not to blame	Exonerated	Blamed
Simple Example: The university has, for all practical purposes, absolved itself of responsibility for housing students.
Flout	To openly disregard a rule or law	Defy	Obey
Simple Example: Private hostels often flout building bylaws and fire-safety regulations to squeeze in more beds.
Stringent	Strict, precise and exacting	Rigorous	Lenient
Simple Example: The Delhi government is working on a stringent policy requiring periodic structural audits of public buildings.
Elusive	Difficult to achieve, find or attain	Intangible	Attainable
Simple Example: A larger systemic change to prevent such tragedies remains elusive, the editorial notes.
Durable	Able to withstand wear; long-lasting	Lasting	Fragile
Simple Example: The government must go beyond reactive measures to seek more durable solutions for student housing.
Crumbling	Breaking apart or decaying	Deteriorating	Sturdy
Simple Example: Crumbling civic infrastructure and illegal construction lie at the heart of the crisis, the editorial argues.
Systemic	Relating to a system as a whole rather than isolated parts	Structural	Isolated
Simple Example: A larger systemic change to India’s approach to student housing remains elusive.
Reactive	Acting in response to a situation rather than proactively	Responsive	Proactive
Simple Example: The government must go beyond these reactive measures to seek more durable solutions.

Idioms

No idioms found in the editorial.

EDITORIAL 2: PERILOUS RETREAT: ON GRAM SABHAS, TRIBAL LAND ISSUES

Source: The Hindu

Vocabulary

Vocabs	Simple Meaning	Synonym	Antonym
Barriers	Obstacles that prevent movement, access or progress	Obstacles	Facilitators
Simple Example: The state is attempting to lower the legal barriers erected by the Forest Rights Act, the editorial warns.
Portends	To be a sign or warning that something, especially something bad, is going to happen	Foreshadows	Reassures
Simple Example: The Committee’s suggestion portends a significant jurisprudential change, the editorial argues.
Acquiescence	Reluctant acceptance without protest	Compliance	Defiance
Simple Example: A regime that deems the acquiescence of 70-75% of affected gram sabhas sufficient would weaken their protections.
Jurisprudential	Relating to the theory and philosophy of law	Legal	Extralegal
Simple Example: The proposed change portends a significant jurisprudential shift in how tribal consent is treated.
Vacuum	An emptiness or absence, especially of authority or regulation	Void	Fullness
Simple Example: The Ministry’s refusal to claim jurisdiction creates a dangerous regulatory vacuum, the editorial notes.
Unchecked	Not controlled or restrained	Unrestrained	Controlled
Simple Example: The vacuum leaves the Centre and States unchecked to rewrite the rules on forest-land diversion.
Ignoble	Not honourable; shameful	Dishonourable	Noble
Simple Example: The state’s approach, the editorial argues, is plainly ignoble.
Recuse	To withdraw from participation in something to avoid a conflict of interest	Withdraw	Engage
Simple Example: The Tribal Affairs Ministry resorting to a technicality to recuse itself is hardly any better, the editorial notes.
Potent	Having great power, influence or effect	Powerful	Weak
Simple Example: Land is the community’s most potent legal instrument in resisting displacement, the editorial notes.
Dispossession	The action of depriving someone of land, property or other belongings	Eviction	Restoration
Simple Example: Forest-dependent communities have long fought to resist displacement and dispossession.

Idioms

No idioms found in the editorial.

EDITORIAL 3: SATWIK-CHIRAG ARE DOING SOMETHING SPECIAL

Source: The Indian Express

Vocabulary

Vocabs	Simple Meaning	Synonym	Antonym
Lukewarm	Showing little enthusiasm; unenthusiastic	Unenthusiastic	Enthusiastic
Simple Example: A lukewarm reception to their second Thomas Cup medal had once left Satwik disappointed.
Remarkable	Worthy of attention; extraordinary	Extraordinary	Ordinary
Simple Example: India’s rise in doubles badminton is remarkable for a country that long worshipped only its singles stars.
Worshipped	Regarded with great admiration, devotion or respect	Idolised	Disdained
Simple Example: India has traditionally worshipped its singles stars far more than its doubles pairs.
Boast	To possess something that one can justifiably be proud of	Possess (proudly)	Lack
Simple Example: India had very little to boast of in doubles badminton just twenty years ago, the editorial notes.
Churned out	Produced steadily and in large quantities	Produced	Failed to generate
Simple Example: Traditional doubles powerhouses like China and Indonesia have long churned out doubles talent.
Toe to toe	In direct and close competition or confrontation	Head-to-head	Outmatched
Simple Example: Satwik-Chirag have proved they can go toe to toe with badminton’s traditional doubles powerhouses.
Winsome	Attractive or appealing in a charming, endearing way	Charming	Repellent
Simple Example: Fans have been won over by the hard-working and winsome doubles pairing, the editorial notes.
Contesting	Competing for or striving to win	Competing	Conceding
Simple Example: Satwik-Chirag keep contesting the top titles, staying firmly in the hunt this season.
Invested	Emotionally committed or interested in something	Engaged	Indifferent
Simple Example: Satwik-Chirag keep fans and even trolls invested in their journey, the editorial notes.
Loyal	Faithful and devoted; a consistent supporter	Devoted	Disloyal
Simple Example: The pair are steadily acquiring a loyal fanbase across India, the editorial notes.

Idioms

No idioms found in the editorial.

EDITORIAL 4: PUNJAB STAND ON JUDGE SETS DISTURBING PRECEDENT

Source: The Indian Express

Vocabulary

Vocabs	Simple Meaning	Synonym	Antonym
Unusual	Not habitually or commonly occurring; out of the ordinary	Uncommon	Usual
Simple Example: In an unusual step, the Punjab Cabinet met to ask the Governor to delay the oath-taking.
Notified	Formally informed of something	Announced	Concealed
Simple Example: The Centre notified Justice Mishra’s appointment on 5 September, Punjab says without its consent.
Consultative	Relating to consultation; involving the exchange of views before a decision	Advisory	Unilateral
Simple Example: The flexibility in the timeline exists because judicial appointments are meant to be a consultative process.
Ambiguity	Uncertainty or inexactness of meaning	Vagueness	Clarity
Simple Example: A defined response window would remove the ambiguity this episode has exposed, the editorial argues.
Benchmark	A standard or point of reference against which things are compared	Standard	Anomaly
Simple Example: The Supreme Court has already set the Centre a benchmark of three to four weeks to clear reiterated names.
Reiterated	Said again or repeated, typically for emphasis or clarity	Repeated	Retracted
Simple Example: The Centre must clear names reiterated by the Collegium within a set benchmark of weeks.
Bickering	Petty or peevish quarrelling over trivial matters	Squabbling	Harmony
Simple Example: Governments must not let political bickering hijack judicial appointments, the editorial warns.
Hijack	To take unauthorised control of a process for one’s own ends	Commandeer	Relinquish
Simple Example: No government is entitled to let political bickering hijack judicial appointments, the editorial argues.
Arraigned	Formally accused of a crime before a court	Indicted	Acquitted
Simple Example: AAP leaders arraigned as accused in the excise-policy case are at the centre of a separate dispute.
Affront	A remark or action that offends or insults someone	Insult	Compliment
Simple Example: Treating adverse court orders as a personal affront cannot become a template for political parties.

Idioms

No idioms found in the editorial.

Test Yourself — 5 Questions

Answer all before you scroll down — then comment your score below!

Q1. The editorial blames ______ development in Delhi’s residential colonies for the tragedy. Select the option that best fits the blank in the sentence.

(A) planned   (B) organised   (C) systematic   (D) haphazard   (E) regulated

Answer: D

Meaning: Haphazard means lacking any obvious organisation or order; random. Logic: ‘haphazard’ fits the sense of uncontrolled, disorderly development. Elimination: planned, organised, systematic and regulated all denote order, the opposite sense.

Q2. A regime that deems the ACQUIESCENCE of 70-75% of affected gram sabhas sufficient would weaken their protections, the editorial notes. Select the option that is the closest synonym of the word given in capitals as used in the passage.

(A) Defiance   (B) Resistance   (C) Objection   (D) Compliance   (E) Opposition

Answer: D

Meaning: Acquiescence means reluctant acceptance without protest. Logic: ‘Compliance’ is its closest synonym. Elimination: Defiance, Resistance, Objection and Opposition all denote refusal, the opposite sense.

Q3. Identify the correctly spelt word among the options below.

(A) Abutting   (B) Abuting   (C) Abbutting   (D) Abuttingg   (E) Abutteng

Answer: A

Meaning: The correctly spelt word is ‘Abutting’, meaning being next to or adjoining something. Logic: standard English spelling. Elimination: the remaining options drop or double letters.

Q4. Identify the correctly spelt word among the options below.

(A) Jurisprudencial   (B) Jurisprudentiall   (C) Jurisprudential   (D) Jurispridential   (E) Jurisprudentail

Answer: C

Meaning: The correctly spelt word is ‘Jurisprudential’, meaning relating to the theory and philosophy of law. Logic: standard English spelling. Elimination: the remaining options substitute, double or transpose letters.

Q5. The university has, for all practical purposes, ABSOLVED itself of responsibility for housing students, the editorial notes. Select the option that is the closest antonym of the word given in capitals as used in the passage.

(A) Blamed   (B) Exonerated   (C) Acquitted   (D) Cleared   (E) Pardoned

Answer: A

Meaning: Absolved means freed from a duty or responsibility; declared not to blame. Logic: ‘Blamed’ is its closest antonym. Elimination: Exonerated, Acquitted, Cleared and Pardoned are all near-synonyms of absolved, not opposite.

How many did you get right? Comment your score below — we read every one!

Quick Recap — Today’s Words

Haphazard (Disorganised) | Abutting (Adjoining) | Absolved (Exonerated) | Flout (Defy) | Stringent (Rigorous) | Elusive (Intangible) | Durable (Lasting) | Crumbling (Deteriorating) | Systemic (Structural) | Reactive (Responsive) | Barriers (Obstacles) | Portends (Foreshadows) | Acquiescence (Compliance) | Jurisprudential (Legal) | Vacuum (Void) | Unchecked (Unrestrained) | Ignoble (Dishonourable) | Recuse (Withdraw) | Potent (Powerful) | Dispossession (Eviction) | Lukewarm (Unenthusiastic) | Remarkable (Extraordinary) | Worshipped (Idolised) | Boast (Possess (proudly)) | Churned out (Produced) | Toe to toe (Head-to-head) | Winsome (Charming) | Contesting (Competing) | Invested (Engaged) | Loyal (Devoted) | Unusual (Uncommon) | Notified (Announced) | Consultative (Advisory) | Ambiguity (Vagueness) | Benchmark (Standard) | Reiterated (Repeated) | Bickering (Squabbling) | Hijack (Commandeer) | Arraigned (Indicted) | Affront (Insult)

Stay Connected

Subscribe on YouTube: MockToOfficer

Join the Telegram channel: https://t.me/Mocktoofficer_group

Visit mocktoofficer.in for full courses and practice

Scroll Down to download the detailed CA PDF

Watch Today Current Affairs Video

Join Our Community to Share your Knowledge

Share this PDF with your Friends and Study Groups