The Hindu Editorial (​​​Bullying tactics) – Aug 06, 2025

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The Hindu Editorial (​​​Bullying tactics) – Aug 06, 2025:

1. bullying (adjective) – aggressive, forceful, strong-arm, domineering, coercive, oppressive, threatening, frightening, browbeating, intimidatory.
2. push back (phrasal verb) – oppose, resist, defy, refute, repel, rebuff, rebuke, force back, withstand.
3. considerable (adjective) – substantial, sizeable, significant, large.
4. forbearance (noun) – tolerance, toleration, patience, self-restraint, self-control.
5. penalty tariffs (noun) –  extra taxes or duties imposed by a country on imported goods as a punishment or retaliation—usually to address unfair trade practices or political disputes.
6. tariff (noun) – a tax imposed by one country on the goods and services imported from another country.
7. substantially (adverb) – significantly, considerably, appreciably.
8. set (to) (verb) – prepare, arrange, make ready.
9. go into place (phrase) – to start being applied, or put into effect.
10. aide (noun) – assistant, advisor.
11. accuse (verb) – criticize, condemn, point the finger at, blame for.
12. sanctions (noun) – action taken, or an order given to force a country to obey international laws by limiting or stopping trade with that country, by not allowing economic aid for that country, etc.
13. Vadinar refinery (noun) – Located in Vadinar in Gujarat, the facility is India’s second-largest single-site refinery, with a nameplate capacity of 20 million metric tonnes per annum (~405,000 barrels per day). It is majority-managed by Nayara Energy, with Russia’s Rosneft holding a ~49% stake.
14. measure (noun) – action, step, course of action, procedure.
15. unjustified (adjective) – excessive, too much, disproportionate, needless, unreasonable, undue, inappropriate, unneeded, extreme, immoderate.
16. Liquefied natural gas (LNG) (noun) – Liquefied natural gas (LNG) is natural gas that has been cooled to a liquid state, at about -260° Fahrenheit (-162.2° C), for shipping and storage.
17. critical minerals (noun) – critical minerals are non-fuel minerals or mineral materials essential to the economic or national security of a country and which have a supply chain vulnerable to disruption. Critical minerals are also characterized as serving an essential function in the manufacturing of a product, the absence of which would have significant consequences for the economy or national security. Examples of critical minerals include lithium, cobalt, nickel, copper, rare earth elements, graphite, and certain platinum group metals (PGMs).
18. vital (adjective) – all-important, critical, urgent, pressing, imperative.
19. compulsion (noun) – need, necessity.
20. as a result of (phrase) – because of, owing to, for the reason that, by virtue of, on account of, due to, in view of.
21. conflict (noun) – war, warfare, armed conflict, military action, armed clash.
22. safeguard (verb) – protect, defend, shield, look after.
23. interest (noun) – common concerns (in politics/business).
24. financial/economic security (noun) – the ability to maintain a standard of living through a stable income or other resources, both now and in the future.
25. taken with (phrase) – to be taken with something or someone means you feel interested and/or attracted toward it. 
26. reciprocal tax (noun) – a tax imposed by one country on imports from another country in response to similar tariffs. The tariffs aim to match or offset tariffs and other trade barriers imposed on US goods by foreign nations.
27. counter-tariff (or) retaliatory tariff (noun) – punitive tariff; an extra tariff/tax that a country charges on import goods from another country to punish the another country for charging tax on its own export goods.
28. growing (adjective) – increasing.
29. frustration (noun) – anger, vexation, irritation, disappointment, dissatisfaction, depression.
30. increasingly (adverb) – more and more, steadily more, continuously more, gradually more.
31. offensive (adjective) – attacking, aggressive, combative, warlike, threatening, belligerent, bellicose.
32. position (noun) – stand, stance, perspective, attitude, point of view, viewpoint.
33. immigration (noun) – the act of leaving one’s countries and moving to another country of which they are not natives, nor citizens, to settle or reside there, especially as permanent residents or naturalized citizens.
34. negotiation (noun) – discussion, discourse, debate, dialogue, deliberation, talk, parley.
35. BRICS countries (plural noun) – the acronym coined to associate five major emerging national economies: Brazil, Russia, India, China, and South Africa. The BRICS members are known for their significant influence on regional affairs. On 1 January 2024, BRICS admitted four new members: Egypt, Ethiopia, Iran and the United Arab Emirates. Saudi Arabia has joined Brics, the alliance of major developing countries, along with four other nations.
36. extent (noun) – level, degree.
37. stand up to (phrasal verb) – oppose, defy, confront, challenge, resist, take on, withstand.
38. possible (adjective) – likely, probable.
39. reference (noun) – instance, remark, citation, mention, comment.
40. talks (noun) – discussion, discourse, debate, dialogue, deliberation, negotiation, parley.
41. ostensibly (adverb) – in a way that something appears or is officially stated to be true/real, but it might not be; apparently, seemingly, allegedly, professedly, supposedly, purportedly
42. resistance (noun) – opposition, confrontation, defiance, fight; refusal to accept, reluctance to accept; ability to fight back.
43. dairy (adjective) – relating to the products made from milk.
44. genetically modified (GM) foods (noun) – foods that have been genetically modified.
45. engage (with) (verb) – deal with, participate in, take part in, take part in, join in, become involved in, involve (a talk/discussion).
46. Brussels (proper noun) – The capital of Belgium; The headquarters of the NATO; The headquarters of the European Union. 
47. respective (adjective) – corresponding, relevant.
48. make a point (phrase) – to give one’s focus to (doing something); to take care in doing something; to pay attention or ensure that something is done
49. underline (verb) – underscore, emphasize, highlight, stress, call/draw attention to.
50. National Security Adviser (NSA) (noun) – the central co-ordinator and adviser to the prime minister/president and cabinet on security, intelligence, defence, and some foreign policy matters. They are based in the Cabinet Office and work across departments to bring together a coherent national security strategy that fits with the government’s priorities.
51. sovereignty (noun) – autonomy, independence, self-government, self-rule, self-legislation, self-determination, self-governance, freedom, liberty
52. non-negotiable (adjective) – inviolable, undebatable, unchallengeable.
53. manipulate (verb) – exploit, influence, engineer, orchestrate, choreograph, use to one’s advantage.
54. no matter (phrase) – regardless of.
55. ties (noun) – association, relationship, bond, connection.

Note : 

1. Click each one of the words above for their definition, more synonyms, pronunciation, example sentences, phrases, derivatives, origin and etc. from http://www.oxforddictionaries.com/.

2. Definitions (elementary level) & Synonyms provided for the words above are my personal work and not that of Oxford University Press. Tentative definitions/meanings are provided for study purposes only and they may vary in a different context.  

3. This word list is for personal use only. Reproduction in any format and/or Commercial use of it is/are strictly prohibited.

The Hindu Editorial (​​Bullying tactics) – Aug 06, 2025: