The Hindu Editorial (Elusive deal) – Apr 13, 2026

To read this article, click  “The Hindu”.

This preview is provided here with permission.

Courtesy: The Hindu

The Hindu Editorial (Elusive deal) – Apr 13, 2026:

1. elusive (adjective) – difficult to find, achieve, or capture; evasive, slippery, intangible, unachievable.
2. ceasefire (noun) – a temporary halt to fighting agreed upon by conflicting parties; truce, armistice, cessation of hostilities.
3. talks (noun) – formal and structured discussions intended to reach an agreement; negotiations, dialogue, diplomatic discussions, consultations.
4. diplomatic (adjective) – concerning the management of international relations and negotiations; political, ambassadorial, consular, foreign-policy, peacemaking.
5. breakthrough (noun) – a sudden or significant development that removes a barrier to progress; advance, step forward, leap.
6. agreement (noun) – deal, accord, treaty, pact, settlement.
7. emerge (verb) – materialize, surface, appear, come to light.
8. post-ceasefire (adjective) – occurring in the period following the suspension of armed conflict; after-truce, post-armistice, post-conflict, post-hostilities.
9. it is not surprising (phrase) – expected or predictable under the circumstances; unsurprising, anticipated, natural, foreseeable.
10. collapse (verb) – to fail suddenly or break down completely; disintegrate, fall apart, fail, crumble.
11. gap (noun) – a significant disparity or difference in views; divide, divergence, gulf, split.
12. shaky (adjective) – lacking stability or firmness; unstable, precarious, insecure, uncertain.
13. step up (phrasal verb) – to increase the intensity, amount, or speed of a particular action; intensify, escalate, accelerate, boost.
14. air strike (noun) – a targeted military attack conducted by aircraft; aerial bombardment, bombing raid, air assault, blitz.
15. mediate (verb) – to intervene in a dispute to facilitate a resolution or agreement; arbitrate, intercede, conciliate, negotiate.
16. truce (noun) – a mutual agreement to temporarily suspend hostilities; ceasefire, armistice.
17. claim (verb) – to assert or maintain that something is true, often without immediate proof; allege, declare, profess, state.
18. cover (verb) – protect, shied, enclose, surround; encompass, include.
19. mutually (adverb) – jointly, collectively, cooperatively, reciprocally.
20. framework (noun) – structure, system for a plan; outline, blueprint.
21. basis (noun) – foundation, base, ground, core, premise.
22. White House (proper noun) – the official residence and workplace of the President of the United States, functioning as the center of the federal executive branch and commonly used as a metonym for the U.S. administration.
23. Tehran (proper noun) – the capital city of Iran, frequently used as a metonym to represent the Iranian government, its political leadership, and its strategic decisions.
24. difference (noun) – disagreement, dispute, disparity, variance.
25. delegation (noun) – a body of representatives deputed to act on behalf of a larger group or nation; contingent, deputation, diplomatic mission, envoys.
26. head (verb) – to lead or be in charge of a group or organization; lead, direct, command, guide.
27. face-to-face (adjective) – involving close contact and physical presence between two or more people; direct, in-person, one-on-one, personal.
28. 1979 revolution (event) – the historic Islamic Revolution in Iran that ousted the Pahlavi monarchy and established an Islamic republic, fundamentally altering relations between Iran and the United States.
29. mark (verb) – to indicate, signify, represent, denote, symbolize.
30. official (noun) – representative, bureaucrat, functionary, executive.
31. contentious (adjective) – controversial, debatable, disputed, fiercely contested.
32. Strait of Hormuz (body) – a highly strategic waterway linking the Persian Gulf with the Gulf of Oman, functioning as a vital global maritime choke point for international oil transport.
33. strike (noun) – a sudden, targeted military attack; assault, bombing, raid, offensive.
34. notably (adverb) – significantly, remarkably, importantly, especially.
35. make a deal (phrase) – to reach a mutual agreement or settlement; negotiate an agreement, come to terms, reach an understanding, strike a bargain.
36. strait (noun) – a narrow passage of water connecting two larger areas of water; channel, inlet, waterway.
37. escalate (verb) – intensify, heighten, worsen, magnify.
38. full-scale (adjective) – all-out, extensive, major, unrestricted.
39. ground invasion (noun) – a military offensive involving soldiers entering and occupying a foreign territory on foot and with vehicles; land offensive, armed incursion, ground assault.
40. bombing (noun) – bombardment, shelling, air strike, blitz.
41. meet (verb) – to fulfill, achieve, or satisfy specific requirements or objectives; fulfill, accomplish, satisfy, realize.
42. stated (adjective) – explicitly declared or expressed in words; clear, explicit, specified, proclaimed.
43. objective (noun) – a specific aim; target, purpose, ambition, goal.
44. on the contrary (phrase) – conversely, oppositely, in contrast, inversely.
45. harden (verb) – to make one’s attitude or stance more rigid, strict, and uncompromising; stiffen, toughen, solidify, entrench.
46. position (noun) – stance, viewpoint, attitude, perspective.
47. trigger (verb) – to cause an event or chain of events to occur; prompt, provoke, precipitate, generate.
48. unilaterally (adverb) – performed independently by only one party involved in a situation without the agreement of others; independently, solely, autonomously, single-handedly.
49. sabotage (verb) – to deliberately destroy, undermine, or disrupt a plan or agreement; wreck, cripple, subvert, thwart.
50. Iran nuclear deal (noun) – formally the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA) signed in 2015, which limited Iran’s nuclear program in exchange for sanctions relief; in 2018, the U.S. unilaterally withdrew from the pact and reinstated severe sanctions.
51. turn out (phrasal verb) – to prove to be the case or have a particular result eventually; transpire, emerge, happen, unfold.
52. setback (noun) – hurdle, obstacle, blow, hindrance.
53. ally (noun) – a nation formally cooperating with another for mutual benefit or military support; partner, associate, confederate, coalition member.
54. negotiated (adjective) – obtained or finalized through formal diplomatic discussions; brokered, arranged, settled, mediated.
55. settlement (noun) – an official agreement that resolves a conflict or dispute; resolution, pact, understanding, arrangement.
56. ultimatum (noun) – a final demand or condition, the rejection of which will result in retaliation or a breakdown in negotiations; final offer, threat, warning, demand.
57. hold (verb) – to possess, maintain, or exert control over something; retain, keep, maintain, wield.
58. leverage (noun) – power, clout, influence, weight, bargaining power.
59. overplay one’s hand (phrase) – to overestimate one’s power and act too aggressively, risking a disadvantageous outcome; overreach, miscalculate, push one’s luck, go too far.
60. overplay (verb) – exaggerate, overstate, overdo, overemphasize.
61. credible (adjective) – reliable, believable, plausible, trustworthy.
62. security guarantee (noun) – a formal diplomatic and military commitment to protect a nation from external threats; defense pledge, protection pact, safety assurance.
63. aggression (noun) – belligerence, hostility, combativeness, offensiveness.
64. reconstruction (noun) – rebuilding, restoration, recovery.
65. wanton (adjective) – deliberate, groundless, arbitrary, unprovoked, senseless, unjustified, indiscriminate, willful.
66. open (adjective) – accessible, unobstructed, unrestricted, clear.
67. concession (noun) – compromise, adjustment.
68. front (noun) – a specific area of operation or activity; domain, arena, field.
69. sustain (verb) – maintain, prolong, preserve, continue.
70. hold (verb) –  maintain, keep up, support, bolster up.

Note:

1. Definitions (elementary level) & Synonyms provided for the words above are our personal work. Tentative definitions/meanings are provided for study purposes only and they may vary in a different context. 

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

To download daily word list PDFs, click HERE