Censorship's Chilling Effect: The CBFC's Opaque Operations
Vocabulary from this Editorial
The act of sticking to a rule, belief, or principle.
Synonyms: compliance, conformity, observance
"Strict adherence to safety regulations is crucial in the construction industry."
An arrangement in a straight line, or a position of agreement or alliance.
Synonyms: accord, cooperation, coalition
"The company sought alignment with its strategic partners on key policy decisions."
Indirect or passing references; hints.
Synonyms: references, hints, suggestions
"The author made several allusions to Greek mythology throughout the novel."
Prejudice in favor of or against one thing, person, or group compared with another, usually in a way considered to be unfair.
Synonyms: prejudice, partiality, favoritism
"The news report was criticized for its clear bias towards one political party."
Stopped or brought to an end.
Synonyms: halted, discontinued, terminated
"The factory ceased operations after decades of production."
The information or material contained within something (e.g., a film, book, website).
Synonyms: material, subject matter, text
"The website offers a wide range of educational content for students."
Perceptible; able to be distinguished.
Synonyms: perceptible, detectable, noticeable
"There was a discernible change in his attitude after the promotion."
Adopt or support (a cause, belief, or way of life).
Synonyms: advocate, champion, endorse
"She espoused the principles of environmental conservation throughout her career."
Erased or removed completely.
Synonyms: deleted, eradicated, obliterated
"His criminal record was expunged after he successfully completed his rehabilitation program."
Grow or develop in a healthy or vigorous way, especially as the result of a particularly favorable environment.
Synonyms: thrive, prosper, bloom
"The arts tend to flourish in cities with diverse cultural scenes."
Providing a basis or groundwork; fundamental.
Synonyms: fundamental, basic, underlying
"Strong foundational knowledge in mathematics is vital for engineering students."
A group of people sharing a common profession or interests; brotherhood.
Synonyms: brotherhood, community, association
"He was welcomed into the fraternity of journalists."
A system of ideas and ideals, especially one which forms the basis of economic or political theory and policy.
Synonyms: doctrine, creed, belief system
"The political party operates under a strict conservative ideology."
Of vital importance; crucial.
Synonyms: essential, crucial, vital
"It is imperative that all documents are submitted by the deadline."
Unable to be reached or entered; difficult to obtain or use.
Synonyms: unreachable, unobtainable, unavailable
"The historical archives were stored in an inaccessible part of the library."
Lacking the quality or quantity required; insufficient for a purpose.
Synonyms: insufficient, deficient, scanty
"The report concluded that the current safety measures were inadequate."
The capacity to have an effect on the character, development, or behavior of someone or something, or the effect itself.
Synonyms: impact, sway, power
"Her parents had a profound influence on her career choice."
A system of parts working together in a machine; a process or means by which something is accomplished.
Synonyms: systems, procedures, methods
"The government is developing new mechanisms to combat corruption."
A spoken or written account of connected events; a story.
Synonyms: story, account, tale
"The film presents a compelling narrative of survival against the odds."
Existing in name only; very small compared to an actual value or cost.
Synonyms: titular, token, symbolic
"He holds only a nominal position in the company, with no real power."
The action of obstructing or being obstructed; something that obstructs.
Synonyms: hindrance, impediment, blockage
"The fallen tree caused an obstruction on the road, delaying traffic for hours."
Extremely unpleasant; repulsive.
Synonyms: repulsive, repugnant, abhorrent
"The politician's odious remarks sparked widespread public outrage."
Apparently or seemingly, but perhaps not actually.
Synonyms: apparently, seemingly, professedly
"Ostensibly, the company is doing well, but internally, there are many problems."
Done or shown openly; plainly apparent.
Synonyms: explicit, obvious, unconcealed
"The manager's overt favoritism towards certain employees was widely noticed."
Interpreted or regarded in a particular way.
Synonyms: understood, recognized, interpreted
"The perceived threat of economic recession led to a dip in consumer spending."
Never ending or changing; occurring repeatedly.
Synonyms: continuous, endless, constant
"The region is plagued by perpetual conflicts and instability."
Caused continual trouble or distress to.
Synonyms: afflicted, tormented, harassed
"The small business was plagued by a series of technical issues."
Evoking a keen sense of sadness or regret.
Synonyms: touching, moving, affecting
"The film's poignant ending left many viewers in tears."
The action of forbidding something, especially by law.
Synonyms: ban, embargo, veto
"The prohibition on smoking in public places has been widely accepted."
Strong and healthy; sturdy or vigorous.
Synonyms: strong, sturdy, resilient
"The company needs to implement a more robust cybersecurity system."
Critical observation or examination.
Synonyms: examination, inspection, analysis
"The financial records came under intense scrutiny during the audit."
Making one feel constrained, oppressed, or unable to breathe easily; suffocating.
Synonyms: oppressive, constricting, suffocating
"The stifling regulations hindered innovation in the industry."
Relating to a system, especially as opposed to a particular part.
Synonyms: pervasive, widespread, fundamental
"Addressing systemic racism requires comprehensive changes across society."
Equivalent in seriousness to; virtually the same as.
Synonyms: equivalent, equal, commensurate
"His refusal to cooperate was tantamount to an admission of guilt."
Acts that go against a law, rule, or code of conduct; offenses.
Synonyms: offenses, violations, sins
"The committee investigated the CEO's alleged financial transgressions."
Performed by or affecting only one person, group, or country involved in a situation, without the agreement of others.
Synonyms: independently, single-handedly, autonomously
"The government decided unilaterally to withdraw from the treaty."
Phrasal Verbs
To cause something to happen or exist.
"The new policy is expected to bring about significant changes in the economy."
To prevent someone or something from continuing their activity or progress; to isolate.
"The heavy snowfall cut off access to the remote village."
To close a business or organization permanently; to stop operating.
"The factory had to shut down due to a lack of funding."
To draw attention to someone's bad behavior or a problem.
"It's important to call out injustice wherever you see it."
To consider someone responsible for something and expect them to explain their actions.
"The public demanded that corrupt officials be held accountable for their actions."
To support or defend a particular idea or a person when they are being attacked.
"We must learn to stand up for our rights and beliefs."
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