Daily editorial vocabulary · 2 November 2026
The Hindu editorial, 2 November 2026
What today's editorials said in short, then 10 hard words with the meaning they have in that sentence. Select any word on this page to see how ftak explains it.
Slow recovery: On the ISRO's GSLV-F18 mission
GSLV-F18 put the NVS-03 satellite in orbit, only ISRO's second successful launch of 2026 after two PSLV failures. If NVS-03 reaches its slot, NavIC can again give positioning over India. The editorial points to slow supply of special parts and asks for about ₹17,000 crore for the Department of Space next year, a separate NavIC operator and a space law. Without that, it says, ISRO will keep stumbling from mission to mission.
Read the full editorial on The HinduDwindling support: On the U.S. and the Cuban embargo
The yearly UN General Assembly resolution against the U.S. embargo on Cuba passed on October 30 with 130 votes for, 25 abstentions and 17 against, far below the 180-plus of earlier years. The editorial blames U.S. pressure: several Latin American and western countries switched or abstained. It credits India for voting against the embargo and asks it to keep speaking up for smaller countries of the Global South.
Read the full editorial on The HinduVocabulary from the editorials
1.unbecoming (adjective)
not suitable for someone of that standing; below what is expected of them
“…is unbecoming of a national space programme…”
Similar: unworthy, inappropriate
2.lurch (verb)
to move from one thing to the next in an unsteady, unplanned way
“…ISRO will lurch from one mission to the next…”
Similar: stagger, stumble
3.make do (phrase)
to manage with whatever little you have because nothing better is available
“…able to make do with its inadequate allocation…”
Similar: get by, manage
4.in tandem (phrase)
at the same time and alongside each other
“…In tandem, the government must allocate…”
Similar: together, alongside
5.bottlenecks (noun)
points where work slows down because one part cannot keep up
“…flagged procurement bottlenecks across ISRO's programmes…”
Similar: hold-ups, choke points
6.indigenously (adverb)
made within the country instead of bought from abroad
“…at least one indigenously made atomic clock onboard…”
Similar: locally, domestically
7.succumbed (verb)
gave in to pressure they had been resisting
“…many appear to have succumbed to those threats…”
Similar: yielded, caved in
8.emboldened (verb)
gave someone more confidence to do something, often something risky or wrong
“…Havana-Moscow ties emboldened Russia's war in Ukraine…”
Similar: encouraged, heartened
9.abstaining (verb)
choosing not to vote either for or against
“…130 in favour, 25 abstaining…”
Similar: holding back, sitting out
10.disquieting (adjective)
worrying enough to make you uneasy
“…demonstrates a disquieting turn…”
Similar: unsettling, troubling
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