Government as a Necessary Evil: English Vocabulary List

to take control of something without any legal basis

"He arrogates all decision making power."

"The military leader tried to arrogate all decision making power to himself without consulting any of his advisors."

to surrender after negotiation or when facing overwhelming pressure

"The army capitulated to the enemy."

"Despite their valiant efforts, the outnumbered defenders were forced to capitulate when the enemy breached the city walls."

to hand over power, land, or a position to another, particularly due to being forced

"The nation cedes territory after defeat."

"The small country was forced to cede a large portion of its territory to the invading army after losing the war."

to force a person of authority or power to step down from their position

"They will defenestrate him."

"The angry shareholders decided to defenestrate the CEO due to his disastrous financial decisions and poor leadership."

to divide voting districts in a way that would advantage a particular group or party more

"Politicians gerrymander districts to win easily."

"The political party tried to gerrymander the voting districts to ensure that they would win the next election easily."

to secretly make plans, particularly to gain an advantage

"The villains machinate behind closed doors."

"The evil advisor spent months machinating against the king in secret hoping to take the throne for himself."

to appoint a person or thing to a lower status, position, or rank

"The coach relegates him to the bench."

"The team's poor performance this season will relegate them to a lower division league next year."

to officially cancel a law, decision, agreement, etc.

"The company rescinded the job offer."

"The board voted to rescind the previous decision after hearing strong objections from several members."

to gradually drain or deplete someone's power or strength

"The heat sapped our energy completely."

"The intense heat of the desert sun sapped the energy of the exhausted hikers who had run out of water."

to be the person who leads something like an attack, campaign, movement, etc.

"She spearheaded the fundraising campaign."

"The young activist was chosen to spearhead the campaign for environmental awareness in her local community."

to gradually decrease the effectiveness, confidence, or power of something or someone

"His words undermine trust."

"His constant criticism began to undermine her confidence and made her doubt her own abilities."

simple and free from cunning

"Her charm is artless."

"Her charm is artless and natural rather than calculated or manipulative."

displaying a willingness to start an argument, fight, or war

"The general is bellicose."

"The general is bellicose and always wants to go to war instead of seeking peaceful solutions."

willingly obeying rules or doing what other people demand

"The child is compliant."

"The child is compliant and always does what his parents ask without arguing or complaining."

displaying a behavior befitting someone who is in a powerful and authoritative position

"His tone is magisterial."

"His tone is magisterial and he speaks with the authority of someone who knows more than everyone else."

excessively flattering and obeying a person, particularly in order to gain their approval or favor

"The waiter is obsequious."

"The waiter is obsequious and bows too much which makes the customers feel uncomfortable and awkward."

ill-tempered and ready to start an argument or fight

"He is a truculent child."

"He is a truculent child who fights with everyone and never admits that he is wrong."

a clever action or behavior that is intended to trick and deceive others

"His speech was artifice."

"The magician's trick was exposed as mere artifice once the secret compartment behind the table was revealed."

a false statement meant to misrepresent someone

"The accusation was a calumny intended to ruin his reputation."

"The politician sued the newspaper for calumny after it published false allegations about his financial dealings."

someone who very strongly believes that their country is far more superior than other countries

"The jingoist demanded an immediate declaration of war."

"The jingoist called for war against any nation that criticized his country regardless of the actual grievances."

a force, movement, organization, etc. that is large, powerful, and uncontrollable

"The company became a corporate juggernaut."

"The retail juggernaut forced hundreds of small family owned stores to close because it could not compete on price."

a government of politicians or military officers that forcefully obtained power

"The military junta seized power in a coup."

"The military junta seized power in a bloody coup and immediately suspended all civil liberties and elections."

an individual who possesses an extreme amount of wealth or a high social standing

"The nabob lived in a luxurious palace."

"The British nabob returned from India with enormous wealth and built a lavish mansion in the countryside."

someone who rules over people and possesses absolute control and power

"The eastern potentate ruled with absolute power."

"The eastern potentate lived in a palace surrounded by servants guards and countless luxury possessions from around the world."

an individual who betrays their country by assisting the enemy occupying or controlling it

"The traitor was branded a quisling."

"The quisling who collaborated with the occupying forces was executed for treason after the war ended."

a neutral area free of the conflict and danger that is between opposing powers

"The peacekeepers created a buffer zone."

"The United Nations established a buffer zone between the two opposing armies to prevent further border clashes."

accusations made in retaliation for being accused

"The meeting dissolved into anger and recrimination."

"The meeting devolved into bitter recrimination as each side blamed the other for the project's failure."

an individual who excessively flatters someone of importance to gain a favor or advantage

"The king was surrounded by sycophants."

"The king was surrounded by sycophants who told him only what he wanted to hear rather than the truth."

(of a monarch or ruler) to step down from a position of power

"The king must abdicate."

"Facing mounting pressure, the aging monarch decided to abdicate his throne."

to choose whom an important position or job will be given to, generally done by a person of power

"The king will anoint."

"The council will anoint the new leader for the upcoming challenging and important regional negotiations."

to grant something such as control, a privilege, or right, often reluctantly

"They concede the point."

"After much deliberation, the company decided to concede a significant portion of their market share."

to remove someone from their job or position, typically due to poor performance

"They will dismiss him."

"Due to his repeated insubordination, the manager decided to dismiss the employee immediately."

to attempt at pleasing an authority by excessively flattering and obeying them

"Do not kowtow to bullies or tyrants."

"The young executive refused to kowtow to his arrogant boss even though it might cost him a promotion."

(of countries, organizations, regions, etc.) not governed by another force, and is in control of itself

"The region is autonomous."

"The region is autonomous and has its own government but is still part of the larger country."

displaying support and favoritism toward a party or cause, usually without giving it much thought

"The crowd is partisan."

"The partisan crowd cheered loudly for their candidate and booed every time the opponent tried to speak."

the formal ending of a business agreement, marriage, parliament, organization, etc.

"The dissolution of the partnership was amicable."

"The dissolution of the Soviet Union in 1991 marked the end of the Cold War era."

a morally or legally wrong act, usually bribery, done to gain an advantage or support

"The politician was convicted of graft."

"The mayor was arrested for graft after investigators found evidence of bribes from construction companies."

(of areas of land or of countries) having a border in common

"Their lands are coterminous."

"The national park's boundaries are coterminous with the river, creating a natural dividing line."