The Hindu Editorial (Sport during a war) – Jun 11, 2026
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The Hindu Editorial (Sport during a war) – Jun 11, 2026:
- give a bad name (phrase) – to cause someone or something to lose respect or have a negative reputation; tarnish, discredit, stigmatize, dishonour.
- the Fédération Internationale de Football Association (International Association Football Federation) (FIFA) (organization) – it is the international governing body of association football, beach soccer, and futsal, responsible for organizing major global tournaments.
- showpiece (noun) – an outstanding example or the most impressive feature of an event; masterpiece, crown jewel, centerpiece, prime example.
- live up to (phrasal verb) – to fulfill expectations or achieve a standard that has been set; meet, satisfy, match, deliver.
- billing (noun) – the way an event or person is described, advertised, or promoted; promotion, publicity, hype, advertisement.
- quite like (phrase) – exactly similar to; identically to, exactly as, just like.
- edition (noun) – a particular instance or version of a regularly occurring event; instalment, version, chapter.
- kick off (phrasal verb) – to begin, start, or commence an event; start, initiate, open, get underway.
- roughly (adverb) – approximately, about, around, nearly, almost.
- continent (noun) – landmass, region, geographic area.
- represent (verb) – to act or speak on behalf of a wider group or region; stand for, act for, symbolize, embody.
- inclusive (adjective) – covering all groups or individuals and ensuring equal participation; all-embracing, comprehensive, universal, non-discriminatory.
- yet (adverb) – thus far, so far, to date, up to now.
- Oceania (proper noun) – a geographic region comprising Australasia, Melanesia, Micronesia, and Polynesia. The vast regions, island territories and adjacent seas in the Pacific Ocean, east of Maritime Southeast Asia and Australia and west of South America.
- wrap (verb) – to cover, enclose, or involve entirely; encompass, envelop, surround, embrace.
- host (verb) – to organize, hold, and provide facilities for an event; stage, present, arrange, put on.
- quadrennial (adjective) – occurring once every four years; four-yearly.
- extravaganza (noun) – a large, spectacular, and elaborate event; spectacle, pageant, display, celebration.
- touch down (phrasal verb) – to land or arrive at a destination; land, arrive, alight, come down.
- aim for (phrasal verb) – to target or try to achieve something specific; strive for, pursue, work toward, aspire to.
- repeat (noun) – an act of doing or achieving something again; repetition, duplication, replay, recurrence.
- exploit (noun) – a notable, bold, or successful deed; achievement, feat, accomplishment, triumph.
- gun for (phrasal verb) – to make a vigorous effort to get or achieve something; pursue aggressively, target, go after, strive for.
- yet to (phrase) – having not done something up to the present moment; still to, have not yet, pending.
- coveted (adjective) – highly sought after or strongly desired by many; desired, craved, wanted, yearned for.
- heavy cross to bear (phrase) – an unpleasant or difficult responsibility that one must endure; burden, hardship, trial, affliction.
- come from (phrasal verb) – originate from, hail from, be born in, emerge from.
- titlist (noun) – champion, winner, titleholder, victor.
- runner-up (noun) – a competitor or team taking second place in a contest; second-best, second place, silver medalist, finalist.
- remain strong (phrase) – to continue to be powerful or highly competitive; endure, persist, stay strong, hold firm.
- irresistible (adjective) – too powerful, appealing, or compelling to be resisted or defeated; overwhelming, overpowering, undeniable, unstoppable.
- in one’s ranks (phrase) – belonging to a particular group, team, or organization; among one’s members, on the roster, in the squad, included in.
- favourite (noun) – the competitor considered most likely to win; front-runner, expected winner, top choice, likely victor.
- so are (phrase) – used to say that a positive statement is also true of someone or something else; likewise, similarly, also, in the same way.
- lesser degree (phrase) – to a smaller extent or amount; minimally, marginally, slightly, fractionally.
- scarcely (adverb) – almost not, or only just; barely, hardly, rarely, infrequently.
- straight (adjective) – consecutive, successive, continuous, uninterrupted.
- occasion (noun) – a particular time or instance of an event; instance, occurrence, time, moment.
- serve a purpose (phrase) – to be useful or fulfill a specific function; meet a need, be of value, function as, work.
- beyond (preposition) – outside, outside the bounds of, past, apart from.
- the turf (noun) – the grass-covered playing area where a sport is played; pitch, field, ground, arena.
- shrink (verb) – reduce, lessen, decrease, diminish.
- difference (noun) – disparity, distinction, variance, contrast.
- promote (verb) – to support, foster, encourage, advance, further.
- cross-cultural (adjective) – relating to different cultures or comparison between them; intercultural, multicultural, diverse, global.
- exchange (noun) – an act of sharing or transferring ideas, culture, or goods; interchange, interaction, sharing, networking.
- in this (phrase) – referring to the previously mentioned context or situation; regarding this, concerning this, in this matter, here.
- instalment (noun) – edition, episode, chapter.
- stumble (verb) – to make a mistake, encounter a problem, or falter; falter, slip up, fail, err.
- entry (noun) – admission, access, entry permit, ingress.
- referee (noun) – an official who oversees a sporting match to ensure rules are followed; match official, umpire, judge, arbiter.
- handpicked (adjective) – carefully chosen for a specific purpose; specially selected, cherry-picked, chosen, designated.
- governing body (noun) – regulatory authority, administrative council, management committee, board.
- credible (adjective) – able to be believed or trusted; reliable, trustworthy, dependable, plausible.
- visa (noun) – an official authorization on a passport permitting travel, entry, or stay in a specific country; travel permit, entry permit.
- immigration authorities (noun) – government agencies responsible for regulating and controlling the flow of people across borders; border control, customs officials.
- immigration (noun) – the action of coming to live permanently in a foreign country, or the process of examining people entering a country; migration, settling, relocation, resettlement.
- authorities (noun) – officials, officialdom, bureaucrats, the people in charge, the administration.
- in an unfortunate turn (phrase) – describing a regretful or unfavorable change in events; regrettably, unluckily, sadly, unfortunately.
- stand-off (noun) – stalemate, deadlock, impasse, face-off.
- camp (verb) – to set up a base or lodge in a temporary location; station, lodge, settle, base.
- logistical (adjective) – relating to the detailed coordination of a complex operation involving many people or facilities; organizational, operational, planning, administrative.
- nightmare (noun) – a very unpleasant, difficult, or chaotic experience; ordeal, horror, trial, disaster.
- affront (noun) – an action or remark that causes outrage or offense; insult, offense, outrage, slight.
- core (adjective) – the most important or central part of something; fundamental, central, primary, essential.
- sporting (adjective) – relating to sports; athletic, competitive, game-related, sports-related.
- tenet (noun) – doctrine, principle, rule, belief.
- level playing field (phrase) – a situation ensuring fair competition where no side has an inherent advantage; fair game, equal opportunity, fairness, parity.
- rankle (verb) – to cause persistent annoyance or resentment; annoy, irritate, upset, anger.
- limited (adjective) – inadequate, insufficient, restricted, scarce.
- facility (noun) – a place, amenity, or piece of equipment provided for a particular purpose; amenity, service, provision, resource.
- steep (adjective) – unacceptably high or unreasonable in price; expensive, high, costly, exorbitant.
- hold (verb) – to organize and bring about an event or competition; conduct, organize, host, stage.
- amidst (preposition) – surrounded by or in the middle of something; during, in the midst of, among, surrounded by.
- disruption (noun) – interruption, disturbance, upheaval, disorder.
- spike (noun) – surge, rise, increase, escalation.
- lost on someone (phrase) – failing to be noticed, understood, or appreciated by someone; unnoticed by, unappreciated by, unheeded by, missed by.
- concern (noun) – a feeling of anxiety, worry, or apprehension; worry, anxiety, apprehension, unease.
- likely (adverb) – probably, presumably, doubtlessly, in all probability.
- dissipate (verb) – to disappear or cause to disappear gradually; vanish, fade away, evaporate, disperse.
- set the ball rolling (phrase) – to initiate an action or start a process; begin, start, commence, kick off.
- majestic (adjective) – showing impressive beauty, grandeur, or scale; grand, magnificent, spectacular, stunning.
- Estadio Azteca (proper noun) – a major, iconic multi-purpose stadium located in Mexico City, renowned for hosting multiple FIFA World Cup finals and historic football matches.
- however (adverb) – nevertheless, nonetheless, yet, but.
- essential (adjective) – extremely important; crucial, vital, indispensable.
- reflect (verb) – to think deeply or carefully about something; ponder, contemplate, consider, meditate.
- in order to (phrase) – with the purpose or intention of doing something; so as to, with the aim of, for the purpose of, to.
- chart (verb) – to make a plan for the future or map out a course of action; map out, plan, outline, devise.
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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No showpiece event of a sport has lived up to its billing quite like the FIFA World Cup. The 2026 edition, which kicks off on Thursday, offers proof. With 48 teams and 104 matches, it is the biggest ever… For further reading, visit “The Hindu”. Below is today’s word list-2 for The Hindu Editorial (Sport during a war) – Jun 11, 2026.