Daily English Vocab
PDF 18th Dec 1216
Well-oiled diplomacy
In nominating Rex Tillerson, Chief Executive of the oil and gas conglomerate (समूह/आधिपत्य)
ExxonMobil, to the post of Secretary of State, U.S. President-elect Donald Trump has provided
another glimpse into his world view and decision-making process. Similar to Mr. Trump,
Mr. Tillerson has no formal experience in political office, yet brings impressive heft (महत्त्व) in terms
of deal-making across 52 countries over six continents. On his watch, the stock market value of
ExxonMobil, the U.S.’s largest oil company, soared to over $360 billion. Yet the vast global reach
of Mr. Tillerson’s work and the sheer complexities involved in drilling for oil, especially the
sometimes messy geopolitics at play, have meant he has often been at odds with the agenda of the
U.S. State Department. In Nigeria, for example, his company faced flak (आलोचना) for lack of
transparency in dealings with the government. Nowhere is the potential divergence from the
hallowed traditions of Foggy Bottom’s diplomatic norms more visible than in Mr. Tillerson’s
decade-plus engagement with Russia to secure oil drilling rights. Under him, ExxonMobil since
2006 signed a plethora (बहुतायत/अधिकता) of drilling agreements including through partnerships with
the Russian oil behemoth (धवशालकाय) Rosneft. Yet, as Mr. Tillerson’s star rose in the eyes of the
Kremlin, U.S. President Barack Obama’s fell, especially since early 2014 when he authorised
sanctions against certain Russian individuals and entities for violating the territorial integrity of
Ukraine.
Thus, reactions to Mr. Tillerson’s nomination have been divided between relief, among those who
would welcome the likely thaw (सामान्य होना (सम्बन्ि के परिपेक्ष्य में)) in Washington-Moscow diplomatic
ties, and alarm, of critics who fear that as in Mr. Trump’s case, Mr. Tillerson may find it difficult
to disentangle his personal and official interests. In his confirmation hearing in the Senate he will
be grilled, in all likelihood by John McCain and his peers (समान पद का/समकक्ष), on his views on
whether Russian hackers had interfered in the presidential election, as the U.S. intelligence
community suggests they did, and whether these hackers could still launch cyberattacks on U.S.
targets. His answers will provide clues about how he might carry out his duties as America’s top
diplomat. They will also supply clarity on his apparent (स्पष्ट/प्रत्यक्ष) belief, contra-Trump, that
human activity does cause climate change, necessitating mitigation and adaptation efforts. To
India, the nomination of Mr. Tillerson, if successful, may smooth military cooperation with
Moscow as Obama-era hostility (धविोिभाव) towards Russia softens. ExxonMobil also has extensive
oil business assets on Indian soil, so New Delhi may have reason to be sanguine (आशावादी) about
bilateral détente (निमी/दो देशों के सबं ि
ु ािना), especially in trade and investment terms.
ं सि
(Courtesy: The Hindu)
1. Conglomerate (noun): A group of diverse companies under common ownership and run as a
single organization. (समूह/आधिपत्य)
 Synonyms: Consortium, Pool, Syndicate.
 Antonyms: Scattered, Parted.
Example: The billionaire’s conglomerate includes restaurants, convenience stores, and a chain
of hotels.
Verb forms: Conglomerate, Conglomerated, Conglomerated.
Related words:
 Conglomerate (verb) - एकत्रित होना
2. Heft (adjective): Possessed of importance or influence. (महत्त्व)
 Synonyms: Significant, Important, Influent, Weighty, Ponderosity.
 Antonyms: Insignificant, Trivial, Minor, Of Less Importance.
Example: There should be some heft to the way we feel about our parents.
Related words:
 Heftily (adjective) - मजबूती से

Hefty (adverb) - जोरदार
3. Flak (noun): Strong criticism. (आलोचना)
 Synonyms: Criticism, Censure, Disapproval, Disapprobation.
 Antonyms: Praise, Commend, Laud, Plausible, Admiration.
Example: He took a lot of flak from the CEO for his unusual behavior.
Related words:
 Flaky (adjective) - त्रित्रिि
4. Plethora (noun): A large or excessive amount of something. (बहुतायत/अधिकता)
 Synonyms: Overabundance, Plenty, Profusion, Surfeit, Glut.
 Antonyms: Lack, Need, Scarcity, Want, Few, Little, Rarity.
Example: He eagerly accepted the job because it came with a plethora of opportunities.
Related words:
 Plethoric (adjective) - भरा-परू ा
5. Thaw (verb): To become friendlier or more relaxed/ operational. (सामान्य होना (सम्बन्ि के परिपेक्ष्य में))
 Synonyms: Soften, Relent, Relax, Mollified.
 Antonyms: Hard, Harsh, Strict, Stringent.
Example: The Presidents of both countries have signed a pact to thaw the relations between them.
Verb forms: Thaw, Thawed, Thawed.
6. Peer (noun): One that is of equal standing with another. (समान पद का/समकक्ष)
 Synonyms: Companion, Coequal, Match.
 Antonyms: Inferior, Superior.
Example: peer education with time is required to raise the intellectual standard of people.
Verb Forms: Peer, Peered, Peered.
Related Words:
 Peer(verb): बराबर होना

Peerless(adjective): अत्रितीय
7. Apparent (adjective): Clearly visible or understood; obvious. (स्पष्ट/प्रत्यक्ष)

Synonyms: Evident, Plain, Obvious, Clear, Manifest, Visible, Discernible, Perceptible,
Perceivable, Noticeable, Detectable.
 Antonyms: Unlikely, Doubtful, Dubious, Hidden, Improbable, Obscure, Questionable.
Example: After spending years trying unsuccessfully to lose weight, it became apparent to Chris
that the only option remaining was surgery.
Related words:
 Apparently (adverb) - स्पष्ट रूप से
8. Hostility (noun): Unfriendliness or opposition. (धविोिभाव/द्वेषभाव)
 Synonyms: Antagonism, Unfriendliness, Bitterness, Malevolence.
 Antonyms: Friendship, Benevolence, Niceness, Gentleness.
Example: When I saw the hostile man approaching my car, I immediately locked my doors.
Related Words:
 Hostile (adjective) – त्रिरोधी

Hostilely (adverb) – त्रिरोधपिू वक
9. Sanguine (adjective): Optimistic or positive, especially in an apparently bad or difficult
situation. (आशावादी)
 Synonyms: Optimistic, Bullish, Hopeful, Positive.
 Antonyms: Depressed, Down, Gloomy, Heavy, Pessimistic.
Example: Although the economy is looking better, we should still not be too sanguine about the
future.
10. Détente (noun): The easing of tensions or strained relations (especially between nations)
(निमी/दो देशों के सबं ि
ु ािना)
ं सि
 Synonyms: Amity, Harmony, Relaxation, Relief, Tranquility, Truce.
 Antonyms: Worse, Aggravate.
Example: The ambassadors spoke to each other about creating a climate of détente in the war
torn region.
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