The Hindu Editorial (​​​​Poll bugles) – Mar 17, 2026

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The Hindu Editorial (​​Poll bugles) – Mar 17, 2026:

1. poll bugles (noun) – election announcements or declarations that mark the beginning of an electoral campaign; election signals, campaign declarations, poll announcements, election calls.
2. bulge (noun) – – an official signal or announcement marking the commencement of a political or electoral campaign (originating from a brass horn used to sound military commands); clarion call, declaration, pronouncement, signal.
3. Assembly (noun) – a legislative body or the lower house of a state legislature in India; legislature.
4. Special Intensive Revision (SIR) (noun) –  an official exercise mandated by the Election Commission of India (ECI) to ensure that all eligible citizens are accurately included in the Electoral Roll while eliminating ineligible entries.
5. apart (adverb) – aside, separately, independently, away.
6. limit (verb) – restrict, bound, confine, check.
7. heave a sigh of relief (phrase) – to suddenly feel very happy and comforted because something unpleasant has not happened or has ended; breathe easily, feel relieved, find comfort, relax.
8. schedule (noun) – timetable, programme, itinerary.
9. held past tense of hold (verb) – conduct, organize, arrange, convene.
10. unlike (preposition) – different from; dissimilar to, in contrast to, as opposed to.
11. spread across (phrasal verb) – extend over, cover, span, encompass.
12. extended (adjective) – prolonged, expanded, lengthened, stretched out.
13. campaign (noun) – an organized course of action to achieve a political goal; canvassing, electioneering, promotion, drive.
14. turn (verb) – become, transform into, change into, convert.
15. vituperative (adjective) – bitter and abusive in language; derogatory, disparaging, insulting, defamatory.
16. stoke (verb) – incite, encourage, fuel, inflame.
17. passion (noun) – strong and barely controllable emotion; fervour, zeal, intensity, enthusiasm.
18. communal rhetoric (noun) – divisive language or speech based on religion or community lines; sectarian discourse, religiously charged rhetoric, polarizing speech, divisive language.
19. rhetoric (noun) – the art of effective or persuasive speaking or writing, often lacking in sincerity or meaningful content; bombast, oratory, discourse.
20. credit (noun) – public acknowledgment or praise given for an achievement; recognition, commendation, acclaim, appreciation.
21. contestation (noun) – dispute, debate, argument, contention.
22. discourse (noun) – discussion, conversation, dialogue, debate.
23. pertinent (adjective) – relevant or applicable to a particular matter; appropriate, fitting, suitable, applicable.
24. that said (phrase) – used to introduce a point that contrasts with what has just been said; nonetheless, even so, however, having said that.
25. satisfactory (adjective) – acceptable, adequate, alright, decent.
26. anomaly (noun) – abnormality, irregularity, inconsistency, oddity.
27. lowered (adjective) – reduced, decreased, diminished, lessened.
28. gender ratio (noun) – the demographic proportion of males to females in a given population; sex ratio, male-female proportion, gender proportion.
29. abnormally (adverb) – unusually, irregularly, exceptionally, unnaturally.
30. short-term (adjective) – temporary, transient, fleeting, brief.
31. migrant (noun) – a person who moves from one place to another, especially in order to find work or better living conditions; immigrant.
32. electoral variable (noun) – a specific factor or element that can change and influence the outcome of an election; voting determinant, political factor, voting metric.
33. variable (noun) – an element, feature, or factor that is liable to vary or change; factor, element, parameter, condition.
34. decisively (adverb) – resolutely, firmly, definitively, conclusively.
35. in favour of (phrase) – to be in support or to the advantage of someone or something; in support of, backing, approving, endorsing.
36. relative (adjective) – considered in relation or in proportion to something else; comparative, proportionate, correlated, respective.
37. non-factor (noun) – a person or thing that has no influence or importance in a particular situation; irrelevant element, non-issue, minor detail, insignificance.
38. sword of Damocles (phrase) –  it refers to extremely dangerous situation; looming threat, impending danger, constant peril, menacing threat.
39. hang over (phrasal verb) – threaten, hover over, loom over.
40. regarding (preposition) – in respect of or concerning; about, concerning, respecting, with reference to.
41. due to (phrase) – because of, owing to, on account of, as a result of.
42. logical discrepancies (noun) – instances where facts, claims, or data do not align with sound reasoning; inconsistencies, contradictions, anomalies, fallacies.
43. discrepancy (noun) – inconsistency, difference, disparity, variance.
44. officer (noun) – official, administrator, executive, functionary.
45. barring (preposition) – excluding, excepting, omitting, aside from.
46. bring in (phrasal verb) – introduce, usher in, initiate, incorporate.
47. province (noun) – state, region, territory, domain.
48. less of a force (phrase) – having a reduced level of impact, presence, or political strength.
49. performance (noun) – achievement, accomplishment, execution.
50. staying power (noun) – the ability to maintain an activity or commitment despite difficulties; endurance, stamina, perseverance, resilience.
51. small but steady (phrase) – modest yet consistent, gradual, unwavering, stable.
52. primarily (adverb) – mainly, chiefly, principally, predominantly.
53. alliance (noun) – coalition, partnership, union, bloc.
54. face (verb) – confront, encounter, tackle, deal with.
55. uphill (adjective) – difficult to achieve or requiring a lot of effort; arduous, difficult, tough, challenging.
56. counter (verb) – oppose, resist, tackle, combat.
57. anti-incumbency (noun) – a political sentiment where voters are dissatisfied with the current elected officials and vote against them; dissatisfaction with the government, opposition to the regime, anti-establishment sentiment, public discontent.
58. resurgent (adjective) – increasing or reviving after a period of little activity, popularity, or occurrence; reviving, recovering, bouncing back, rejuvenating.
59. challenge (verb) – confront 
60. alongside (preposition) – together with, next to, beside, along with.
61. seek (verb) – try, attempt, aim, strive.
62. expand (verb) – enlarge, extend, broaden, increase.
63. limited (adjective) – restricted in size, amount, or extent; restricted, finite, bounded, constrained.
64. footprint (noun) – the impact, influence, or presence left by a person, group, or organization in a particular area; impact, influence, presence, mark.
65. front (noun) – a political coalition or an organized body acting toward a specific goal; alliance, coalition, group, bloc.
66. inability (noun) – incapability, impotence, failure.
67. rope in (phrasal verb) – enlist, engage, involve, persuade to join.
68. failing (noun) – shortcoming, flaw, weakness, defect.
69. frame (verb) – formulate, devise, establish, construct.
70. referendum (noun) – a general vote by the electorate on a single political question which has been referred to them for a direct decision; public vote, plebiscite, popular vote, poll.
71. governance (noun) – administration, management, rule.
72. crass (adjective) – insensitive, blundering, gross, unrefined.
73. identity (noun) – a social category, a set of persons marked by a label and distinguished by rules deciding membership and (alleged) characteristic features or attributes; individuality, character, originality.
74. identity politics (noun) – it is also called as identitarian politics, refers to political positions based on the interests and perspectives of social groups with which people identify. Identity politics is when people of a particular race, ethnicity, gender, or religion form alliances and organize politically to defend their group’s interests; communal politics, sectarian politics, divisive politics, polarizing politics.
75. largely (adverb) – to a great extent; mostly, mainly, primarily, principally.
76. bipolar (adjective) – two-sided, polarized.
77. take on (phrasal verb) – confront, face, challenge, oppose.

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. 

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