New Words

Question 1

Defamation

Answer 1

(Formal) Defamation is the damaging of someone’s good reputation by saying something bad and untrue about them. He sued for defamation.

Question 2

Deterred

Answer 2

to discourage or restrain from acting or proceeding: The large dog deterred trespassers.

to prevent; check; arrest: timber treated with creosote to deter rot.

To deter someone from doing something means to make them not want to do it or continue doing it. Supporters of the death penalty argue that it would deter criminals from carrying guns.

Question 3

Culpable

Answer 3

deserving blame or censure; blameworthy.

( Formal ) If someone or their conduct is culpable , they are responsible for something wrong or bad that has happened. Their decision to do nothing makes them culpable. …manslaughter resulting from culpable negligence.
culpability ( k ʌ lpəb ɪ lɪti ) uncount noun He added there was clear culpability on the part of the government.

Question 4

Cavalier

Answer 4

( To Express Disapproval ) If you describe a person or their behavior as cavalier , you are criticizing them because you think that they do not consider other people’s feelings or take account of the seriousness of a situation. The editor takes a cavalier attitude to the concept of fact checking.