16 September 2026 | FREE Editorial PDF

Word Power

Date: 16-Sep-2026

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

EDITORIAL 1: LET AI SAFETY CATCH UP

Source: The Indian Express

Vocabulary

Vocabs	Simple Meaning	Synonym	Antonym
Dystopian	Relating to an imagined state or society where there is great suffering or injustice	Nightmarish	Utopian
Simple Example: The warning from AI leaders may sound like a scenario from dystopian fiction, the editorial notes.
Transformative	Causing a marked and often profound change	Revolutionary	Insignificant
Simple Example: Companies are racing to develop a deeply transformative technology, the editorial warns.
Flagged	Brought to attention as a concern; highlighted	Highlighted	Ignored
Simple Example: The dangers of letting companies set their own limits have long been flagged, the editorial says.
Strangling	Constraining or suppressing something severely	Stifling	Nurturing
Simple Example: Governments must set safety standards without strangling innovation, the editorial argues.
Mandatory	Required by law or rule; compulsory	Compulsory	Optional
Simple Example: Amodei and Altman’s voluntary commitment could be made mandatory, the editorial suggests.
Heightened	Increased in intensity or degree	Intensified	Diminished
Simple Example: The challenge of international cooperation is steep in a time of heightened global rivalries.
Reckoning	A settling of accounts or consequences; a time of judgment	Judgment	Exoneration
Simple Example: An internal reckoning has been forced by the development of recursive self-improvement.
Autonomously	Acting independently, without external control	Independently	Dependently
Simple Example: There are high-profile instances of AI technology escaping the sandbox to act autonomously.
Belated	Coming later than expected or desired	Delayed	Timely
Simple Example: Whether the concerns emerge from a belated sense of accountability is beside the point, the editorial says.
Liabilities	Legal responsibilities or things for which one is answerable	Obligations	Assets
Simple Example: Companies may wish to avoid the liabilities arising from AI gone rogue, the editorial notes.

Idioms

Idiom	Actual Meaning	Simple Meaning
Beside the point	Irrelevant; not pertinent to the matter under discussion	Not important to what is being discussed

EDITORIAL 2: CELINE DION: THE HEART GOES ON

Source: The Indian Express

Vocabulary

Vocabs	Simple Meaning	Synonym	Antonym
Pleated	Folded in even, regular folds	Folded	Flat
Simple Example: Dion walked onto the stage in a black pleated Dior dress.
Overcome	Overwhelmed emotionally	Overwhelmed	Composed
Simple Example: Visibly overcome with emotion, she told the packed stadium she had made a promise to be back.
Grappling	Struggling to deal with or come to terms with a difficulty	Struggling	Thriving
Simple Example: Dion has spent the last six years grappling with a rare neurological disorder.
Astounding	Extremely surprising or impressive; astonishing	Astonishing	Unremarkable
Simple Example: The disorder challenged the astounding high notes that had long been her signature.
Palpable	So intense as to be almost felt; obvious	Tangible	Imperceptible
Simple Example: The agony of watching her mastery slip away was palpable in the 2024 documentary.
Poignant	Evoking a keen sense of sadness or regret	Touching	Unmoving
Simple Example: The agony was palpable in Irene Taylor’s poignant 2024 documentary I Am: Celine Dion.
Hiatus	A pause or gap in continuity	Break	Continuity
Simple Example: Here was a star returning after a hiatus, the piece notes.
Artiste	A skilled public performer, especially a singer or dancer	Performer	Amateur
Simple Example: Here was also an artiste who discovered her voice and body could not be taken for granted.
Vicinity	The area near or surrounding a place	Proximity	Distance
Simple Example: She was more often than not on point with the notes, and sometimes just about in the vicinity.
Triumphed	Achieved a victory; succeeded	Prevailed	Failed
Simple Example: Against the odds, she triumphed, the piece concludes.

Idioms

Idiom	Actual Meaning	Simple Meaning
Against the odds	Despite difficulties or unfavourable circumstances	Succeeding even when it seemed unlikely

EDITORIAL 3: LISTING TATA SONS WILL LEAD TO TRANSPARENCY

Source: The Indian Express

Vocabulary

Vocabs	Simple Meaning	Synonym	Antonym
Mired	Deeply involved in difficulties	Entangled	Free
Simple Example: The group has been mired in internal conflicts, the editorial notes.
Ambiguity	Uncertainty of meaning	Vagueness	Clarity
Simple Example: The RBI’s decision brings to an end the longstanding regulatory ambiguity on the matter.
Slated	Scheduled or planned	Scheduled	Cancelled
Simple Example: Its board is slated to hold its next meeting on September 17.
Dilute	To reduce the strength, force or effectiveness of something	Weaken	Strengthen
Simple Example: A listing could dilute the control the Trusts exercise over Tata Sons.
Remould	To reshape or reform something	Reshape	Preserve
Simple Example: A listing could remould the structures of control that have so far governed the group.
Sprawling	Spreading out over a large area in an extensive, irregular way	Extensive	Compact
Simple Example: In a sprawling conglomerate like the Tatas, with interests in several areas of strategic importance.
Delineated	Described or portrayed precisely	Defined	Obscured
Simple Example: The structures of governance should be clearly delineated, the editorial argues.
Scrutiny	Close and critical examination	Examination	Negligence
Simple Example: A listing would lead to greater questioning and scrutiny of decisions on capital allocation.
Monetise	To convert into or generate money from	Capitalise	Devalue
Simple Example: The Shapoorji Pallonji group has been looking for ways to monetise its holdings.
Sway	Influence or power	Influence	Powerlessness
Simple Example: A listing would shine a light on an entity that exercises considerable sway over the group’s companies.

Idioms

Idiom	Actual Meaning	Simple Meaning
Shine a light on	To draw attention to something; to make something clearer	To make something better known or understood

Test Yourself — 5 Questions

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

Q1. Identify the correctly spelt word among the options below.

(A) Dystopian   (B) Distopian   (C) Dystopain   (D) Dysttopian   (E) Dystopiann

Answer: A

Meaning: The correctly spelt word is ‘Dystopian’, meaning relating to an imagined society of great suffering or injustice. Logic: standard English spelling. Elimination: the remaining options drop, transpose or double letters.

Q2. Identify the correctly spelt word among the options below.

(A) Pleatted   (B) Pleeted   (C) Pleeated   (D) Pleated   (E) Pleatedd

Answer: D

Meaning: The correctly spelt word is ‘Pleated’, meaning folded in even, regular folds. Logic: standard English spelling. Elimination: the remaining options double or substitute letters.

Q3. Companies are racing to develop a deeply TRANSFORMATIVE technology, the editorial notes. Select the option that is the closest synonym of the word given in capitals as used in the passage.

(A) Revolutionary   (B) Insignificant   (C) Trivial   (D) Negligible   (E) Minor

Answer: A

Meaning: Transformative means causing a marked and profound change. Logic: ‘Revolutionary’ is its closest synonym. Elimination: Insignificant, Trivial, Negligible and Minor all denote a lack of impact, the opposite sense.

Q4. Visibly OVERCOME with emotion, Celine Dion told the packed stadium she had made a promise to be back. Select the option that is the closest synonym of the word given in capitals as used in the passage.

(A) Composed   (B) Unmoved   (C) Overwhelmed   (D) Indifferent   (E) Calm

Answer: C

Meaning: Overcome (here) means overwhelmed emotionally. Logic: ‘Overwhelmed’ is its closest synonym. Elimination: Composed, Unmoved, Indifferent and Calm all denote emotional steadiness, the opposite sense.

Q5. The dangers of letting companies set their own limits have long been FLAGGED, the editorial notes. Select the option that is the closest antonym of the word given in capitals as used in the passage.

(A) Highlighted   (B) Noted   (C) Ignored   (D) Marked   (E) Signalled

Answer: C

Meaning: Flagged means brought to attention as a concern. Logic: ‘Ignored’ is its closest antonym. Elimination: Highlighted, Noted, Marked and Signalled are all near-synonyms of flagged, not opposite.

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

Quick Recap — Today’s Words

Dystopian (Nightmarish) | Transformative (Revolutionary) | Flagged (Highlighted) | Strangling (Stifling) | Mandatory (Compulsory) | Heightened (Intensified) | Reckoning (Judgment) | Autonomously (Independently) | Belated (Delayed) | Liabilities (Obligations) | Pleated (Folded) | Overcome (Overwhelmed) | Grappling (Struggling) | Astounding (Astonishing) | Palpable (Tangible) | Poignant (Touching) | Hiatus (Break) | Artiste (Performer) | Vicinity (Proximity) | Triumphed (Prevailed) | Mired (Entangled) | Ambiguity (Vagueness) | Slated (Scheduled) | Dilute (Weaken) | Remould (Reshape) | Sprawling (Extensive) | Delineated (Defined) | Scrutiny (Examination) | Monetise (Capitalise) | Sway (Influence)

Idioms: Beside the point, Against the odds, Shine a light on

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