Urban Flood Vulnerability: Mumbai's Persistent Monsoon Challenge
Vocabulary from this Editorial
Present or experienced to a severe or intense degree.
Synonyms: severe, intense, sharp
"The city faces an <b>acute</b> water shortage during the summer months."
Able to adjust to new conditions.
Synonyms: flexible, adjustable, versatile
"An <b>adaptive</b> strategy is crucial for businesses navigating volatile markets."
To make something bad or unsatisfactory better.
Synonyms: improve, enhance, better
"Efforts are being made to <b>ameliorate</b> the living conditions of the urban poor."
Short, sudden occurrences of activity or something.
Synonyms: spurts, rushes, outbreaks
"The heavy rainfall came in sudden <b>bursts</b>, causing flash floods."
To occur at the same time or during the same period.
Synonyms: concur, correspond, harmonize
"Her birthday always <b>coincides</b> with the national holiday."
To make (something bad) worse; intensify the negative aspects of.
Synonyms: aggravated, exacerbated, worsened
"The economic crisis was <b>compounded</b> by political instability."
In a way that can be clearly shown or proved.
Synonyms: evidently, verifiably, undeniably
"His claims were <b>demonstrably</b> false based on the evidence presented."
Disturbances or problems that interrupt an event, activity, or process.
Synonyms: disturbances, interruptions, setbacks
"The strike caused widespread <b>disruptions</b> to public transport."
To give support, confidence, or hope to (someone).
Synonyms: motivate, inspire, stimulate
"The teacher always tries to <b>encourage</b> creativity in her students."
Not regular or consistent in pattern or movement; unpredictable.
Synonyms: inconsistent, unpredictable, volatile
"The stock market has been <b>erratic</b> lately, making investments risky."
To make a problem, bad situation, or negative feeling worse.
Synonyms: aggravate, worsen, intensify
"His aggressive behavior only <b>exacerbated</b> the tense situation."
Broken into small pieces or parts; disorganized or incomplete.
Synonyms: disjointed, scattered, divided
"The political landscape became increasingly <b>fragmented</b> after the election."
To struggle with something difficult or challenging.
Synonyms: wrestle, contend, battle
"Scientists continue to <b>grapple</b> with the complexities of quantum physics."
Lacking any obvious principle of organization.
Synonyms: random, disorganized, unsystematic
"The development of the city was rather <b>haphazard</b>, leading to traffic issues."
Of vital importance; crucial.
Synonyms: essential, crucial, vital
"It is <b>imperative</b> that we act quickly to address climate change."
Not having the ability, quality, or skill to do something.
Synonyms: incompetent, unable, unqualified
"The old machinery was <b>incapable</b> of meeting modern production demands."
Not finished; not having all the necessary parts.
Synonyms: unfinished, partial, lacking
"Many of the renovation works remain <b>incomplete</b> due to funding issues."
Not enough; inadequate.
Synonyms: inadequate, deficient, scarce
"There was <b>insufficient</b> evidence to convict the suspect."
Of extreme force, degree, or strength.
Synonyms: strong, powerful, fierce
"The athletes underwent <b>intense</b> training for the competition."
Temporary failures of concentration, memory, or judgment.
Synonyms: failures, oversights, errors
"A series of security <b>lapses</b> led to the data breach."
Of or relating to a large city and its surrounding areas.
Synonyms: urban, civic, municipal
"The new policy aims to improve public transport in <b>metropolitan</b> areas."
To reduce something, especially something undesirable, to the smallest possible amount or degree.
Synonyms: reduce, curtail, lessen
"Companies are trying to <b>minimise</b> their carbon footprint."
To go faster than; exceed in speed or development.
Synonyms: surpass, exceed, outstrip
"Technological advancements often <b>outpaces</b> regulatory frameworks."
To defeat someone or something by a large amount; to have too much of something to deal with.
Synonyms: inundated, swamped, deluged
"The small medical team was <b>overwhelmed</b> by the sudden influx of patients."
(Of a person or action) creating or controlling a situation rather than just responding to it after it has happened.
Synonyms: forward-thinking, anticipatory, preventative
"A <b>proactive</b> approach to problem-solving often yields better results."
(Of land) made suitable for cultivation or habitation from its former state (e.g., marsh, sea).
Synonyms: recovered, salvaged, restored
"The city expanded by building on <b>reclaimed</b> land along the coast."
The capacity to recover quickly from difficulties; toughness.
Synonyms: adaptability, flexibility, robustness
"The community showed great <b>resilience</b> in rebuilding after the disaster."
The draining away of water (or other liquid) from the surface of an area of land, a building or structure.
Synonyms: drainage, outflow, discharge
"Excessive agricultural <b>run-off</b> can pollute rivers and lakes."
Suffering from or showing the effects of overexertion or excessive demand.
Synonyms: stressed, stretched, burdened
"The hospital's resources were severely <b>strained</b> during the pandemic."
A plan of action or policy designed to achieve a major or overall aim.
Synonyms: plan, approach, tactic
"The company adopted a new marketing <b>strategy</b> to boost sales."
To damage or weaken (someone or something), especially gradually or insidiously.
Synonyms: weakened, jeopardized, subverted
"Constant criticism slowly <b>undermined</b> her confidence."
The state of being exposed to the possibility of being attacked or harmed, either physically or emotionally.
Synonyms: susceptibility, defenselessness, exposure
"The lack of proper security measures increased the system's <b>vulnerability</b> to cyberattacks."
Phrasal Verbs
To struggle to deal with or understand a difficult problem or issue.
"Governments worldwide continue to <i>grapple with</i> the challenges of economic inequality."
Based on or developed from something as a foundation.
"The success of the company was <i>built on</i> years of hard work and innovation."
(Of liquid, especially water) to flow away from a surface.
"During heavy rains, excess water <i>runs-off</i> the rooftops into the streets."
To indicate or suggest something; to draw attention to.
"Recent data <i>points to</i> a significant increase in consumer spending."
To cease operations or to close completely; to stop functioning.
"Many businesses had to <i>shut down</i> permanently during the economic downturn."
To reach the same level, standard, or position as someone or something else.
"It will be challenging for the underdeveloped regions to <i>catch up to</i> the advanced economies without significant investment."
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