Let’s explore ten vocabulary words from The Hindu on April 27, 2024, along with their meanings, alternate words, and usage:

1. Verification (noun)
   • Meaning: To prove that something exists or is true, or to make certain that something is correct.
   • Alternate Words: Confirmation, validation, authentication.
   • Usage: The court sought verification of the paper trail left by electronic voting machines (EVMs).
2. Irremediable (adjective)
   • Meaning: Impossible to correct or cure.
   • Alternate Words: Incurable, irreversible, irreparable.
   • Usage: The damage caused by the natural disaster was irremediable.
3. Vulnerabilities (noun)
   • Meaning: Able to be easily physically or mentally hurt, influenced, or attacked.
   • Alternate Words: Weaknesses, susceptibilities, flaws.
   • Usage: The security system addressed vulnerabilities in the network.
4. Regressive (adjective)
   • Meaning: Moving backward; becoming less advanced or developed.
   • Alternate Words: Retrograde, declining, deteriorating.
   • Usage: Reverting to paper ballots would be a regressive step in the electoral process.
5. Impair (verb)
   • Meaning: To weaken or damage something.
   • Alternate Words: Diminish, compromise, hinder.
   • Usage: Lack of sleep can impair cognitive function.
6. Lacuna (noun)
   • Meaning: A gap or missing part in something.
   • Alternate Words: Void, deficiency, omission.
   • Usage: There is no hard evidence of any lacuna in the current verification system.
7. Indispensable (adjective)
   • Meaning: Too important not to have; necessary.
   • Alternate Words: Essential, crucial, vital.
   • Usage: A paper trail is an indispensable requirement for free and fair elections.
8. Ascertaining (verb)
   • Meaning: To discover or find out something.
   • Alternate Words: Verifying, confirming, determining.
   • Usage: Voters had no way of ascertaining if their votes were recorded correctly.
9. Ironical (adjective)
   • Meaning: Contrary to what is expected or intended.
   • Alternate Words: Paradoxical, unexpected, satirical.
   • Usage: It is somewhat ironical that the verification system itself has become a bone of contention.
10. Contend (verb)
    • Meaning: To argue or compete against something.
    • Alternate Words: Assert, dispute, vie.
    • Usage: The parties continue to contend over the election results.

Feel free to incorporate these words into your vocabulary practice! 📚