Police Accountability and Rule of Law in a Democracy
Vocabulary from this Editorial
Required or expected to justify actions or decisions; responsible.
Synonyms: responsible, liable, answerable
"Government officials must be held <b>accountable</b> for their decisions and actions."
Attachment or commitment to a person, cause, or belief; strict observance of a rule or standard.
Synonyms: compliance, conformity, observance
"Strict <b>adherence</b> to safety protocols is crucial in the workplace."
Clearly visible or understood; obvious; seeming real or true, but not necessarily so.
Synonyms: obvious, evident, visible
"The <b>apparent</b> simplicity of the task masked its underlying complexity."
To make a physical attack on.
Synonyms: attacking, beating, striking
"The security guard was reprimanded for <b>assaulting</b> a peaceful demonstrator."
A person or thing that precipitates an event or change.
Synonyms: impetus, stimulus, trigger
"The new policy acted as a <b>catalyst</b> for economic growth in the region."
Knowledge or awareness; the state of being aware or having knowledge of something.
Synonyms: awareness, knowledge, perception
"The court took <b>cognizance</b> of the new evidence presented by the defense."
At the same time; simultaneously.
Synonyms: simultaneously, coincidentally, at once
"Two major projects are running <b>concurrently</b>, requiring careful management."
Restrain or keep in check.
Synonyms: restrain, control, limit
"New regulations aim to <b>curb</b> inflation and stabilize the market."
An inclination to believe that people are motivated purely by self-interest; skepticism.
Synonyms: skepticism, distrust, pessimism
"Years of broken promises had bred deep <b>cynicism</b> among the electorate."
To make or become more profound or intense.
Synonyms: intensifying, aggravating, exacerbating
"The political crisis risks <b>deepening</b> the economic instability."
Represent by a drawing, painting, or other art form; portray; describe.
Synonyms: portrays, illustrates, shows
"The mural <b>depicts</b> scenes from the city's rich history."
A state or feeling of being dissatisfied with people in authority or a system.
Synonyms: dissatisfaction, discontent, unrest
"The government's unpopular policies led to widespread public <b>disaffection</b>."
In a way that shows care and conscientiousness in one's work or duties.
Synonyms: assiduously, conscientiously, industriously
"She <b>diligently</b> researched all aspects of the case before making a decision."
Outstandingly bad; shocking.
Synonyms: flagrant, atrocious, abominable
"The CEO was criticized for his <b>egregious</b> misuse of company funds."
Make (a problem, bad situation, or negative feeling) worse.
Synonyms: aggravates, worsens, intensifies
"Lack of proper medical care often <b>exacerbates</b> chronic health conditions."
Providing a basis or groundwork; fundamental.
Synonyms: fundamental, basic, underlying
"A strong education is <b>foundational</b> for a successful career."
Encourage or promote the development of (something good, typically something abstract).
Synonyms: promoting, encouraging, nurturing
"The program aims at <b>fostering</b> innovation among young entrepreneurs."
Aggressive pressure or intimidation.
Synonyms: molestation, persecution, bullying
"The company has a strict policy against workplace <b>harassment</b>."
Treating all rivals or disputants equally; fair and unbiased.
Synonyms: unbiased, neutral, objective
"A judge must remain <b>impartial</b> throughout the trial."
The action of secretly entering or joining an organization or group, especially for subversive purposes.
Synonyms: penetration, intrusion, insinuation
"The intelligence agency prevented an <b>infiltration</b> attempt by foreign spies."
The action of frightening or threatening someone, often to make them do what one wants.
Synonyms: threat, coercion, menace
"Witnesses refused to testify due to fear of <b>intimidation</b>."
The action or process of intervening.
Synonyms: interference, mediation, intercession
"Military <b>intervention</b> was considered to restore peace in the region."
Unacceptable or improper behavior, especially by an employee or professional person.
Synonyms: impropriety, wrongdoing, malpractice
"The athlete was suspended for serious <b>misconduct</b> during the game."
Causing someone to feel deeply hurt, upset, or angry.
Synonyms: insulting, displeasing, abusive
"His remarks were widely regarded as deeply <b>offensive</b> and inappropriate."
Existing at a particular time; current.
Synonyms: current, dominant, widespread
"The <b>prevailing</b> opinion among experts is that the economy will recover soon."
The scope of the influence or concerns of something.
Synonyms: scope, range, domain
"Matters of national security fall within the <b>purview</b> of the federal government."
Morally correct behavior or thinking; righteousness.
Synonyms: integrity, morality, virtue
"The judge was known for his unwavering <b>rectitude</b> and fairness."
The quality of being reticent; reserve.
Synonyms: reserve, restraint, hesitation
"Her <b>reticence</b> to share personal details made it difficult to get to know her."
Provide evidence to support or prove the truth of.
Synonyms: proven, confirmed, verified
"The claims made in the report were fully <b>substantiated</b> by independent research."
Allowing light to pass through so that objects behind can be distinctly seen; easy to perceive or detect.
Synonyms: clear, obvious, plain
"The government promised a <b>transparent</b> investigation into the allegations."
A general direction in which something is developing or changing.
Synonyms: tendency, direction, course
"There is a growing <b>trend</b> towards sustainable living practices."
In a way that leaves no doubt; unambiguously.
Synonyms: unambiguously, explicitly, categorically
"The new policy was <b>unequivocally</b> supported by the entire committee."
Emphasize the importance of (something).
Synonyms: emphasizes, highlights, stresses
"The report <b>underscores</b> the need for greater investment in education."
Found or distributed over a large area or number of people.
Synonyms: prevalent, common, extensive
"The new technology gained <b>widespread</b> adoption across various industries."
Having or showing great energy or enthusiasm in pursuit of a cause or objective.
Synonyms: ardent, fervent, passionate
"The activist was <b>zealous</b> in her efforts to protect endangered species."
Phrasal Verbs
To have a negative effect on something, making it seem less appealing or hopeful.
"The sudden resignation of the CEO is <b>casting a pall over</b> the company's future prospects."
To research or investigate something thoroughly; to explore in detail.
"The historian spent years <b>delving into</b> ancient manuscripts to uncover new facts."
To participate in an activity or enterprise.
"Students were encouraged to <b>engage in</b> extracurricular activities to broaden their skills."
To be noticeably different from something else; to present a clear opposition.
"His optimistic outlook <b>stands in stark contrast</b> to the general pessimism in the team."
To take severe measures to restrict or suppress undesirable or illegal behavior.
"The authorities are <b>cracking down on</b> illegal street racing in the city."
To investigate or examine something.
"The police are currently <b>looking into</b> the anonymous tip they received."
To ensure that someone who has committed a crime is arrested and punished for it.
"The detective vowed to <b>bring</b> the culprits <b>to justice</b> for their heinous crime."
To function or exist outside the specified limits or scope of something.
"The rogue agency <b>operates beyond</b> the conventional rules of international diplomacy."
To go back on a promise, undertaking, or contract.
"The company was accused of <b>reneging on</b> its agreement to compensate the workers."
Keep Learning with PrepZen
Get daily current affairs, live mock tests, mistake bank, vocab builder & more — all free on your phone.
Recent Editorials
- Safeguarding Electoral Integrity: A Call for Accountability (23 September 2026)
- Orbital Armaments: The Perilous New Frontier in Space (22 September 2026)
- A Critical Examination of India's Drug Quality Control (21 September 2026)
- U.S. Sanctions and India's Economic Dilemma (20 September 2026)
- Saving the Pygmy Hog: A Call for Floodplain Restoration (18 September 2026)