Word Bank 21 – Oscars

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05. embody means to represent or personify a particular quality or characteristic
11. esoteric means intended for or likely to be understood by only a small number of people with a specialized knowledge or interest
02. cutthroat means extremely competitive and ruthless, with little regard for fairness or ethics
08. glossy means the total amount of money earned or made by a film at the box office
04. acumen means the ability to make good judgments and quick decisions, especially in a particular field
13. panacea-like means having the qualities of a cure-all or a remedy for all ills
01. dumps means the act of revealing or disclosing negative information about someone or something
09. scrutiny means careful examination or inspection
14. perfidy means deceitfulness or treachery; an act of betrayal
03. anomaly means something that deviates from what is considered normal or expected
12. rendition means a performance or interpretation of a particular piece of art or music
07. pundits means experts or commentators who offer their opinions or analysis on a particular subject, in this case the Oscars race
10. backlash means a strong negative reaction or response to something, often due to a perceived unfairness or injustice
06. grossed means the total amount of money earned or made by a film at the box office
[acquainted] means familiar with or knowledgeable about someone or something

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07. duo means a pair or two people working together
04. exhorting means strongly urging or encouraging someone to do something
16. circumstantial means dependent on specific circumstances or conditions
13. ostentatious means showy or excessively flashy
19. expended means spent or used up
01. instigated means encouraged or initiated
12. jogged means reminded or prompted someone of something
17. conferred means granted or awarded
10. invaded means entered forcefully without permission
05. meticulous means careful and precise
15. upshot means the end result or consequence
08. analogous means similar or comparable in certain ways
02. endorse means publicly support or approve of
03. divulged means revealed or disclosed
18. divinities means deities or gods
14. handcuffed means restrained or limited
11. elucidate means clarify or explain something
06. outreach means efforts to connect or communicate with people
09. insurrection means a violent uprising against an authority or government
[notwithstanding] means despite or in spite of

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09. crafted means created or produced with care or skill, in this case, carefully crafting a narrative during the Oscars campaign.
12. unanimous means in complete agreement, in this case, the critics were all in agreement about the quality of Tár.
06. akin means similar or related, in this case, comparing the Oscars race to the divide between the presidential primaries and the general election.
07. honing means refining or improving, in this case, refining the narrative and defining the film during the second phase of the Oscars campaign.
16. overblown means exaggerated or overstated, in this case, referring to the negative narratives that are sometimes used in Oscar campaigns.
03. propel means push forward or make something move forward, in this case, making a film gain momentum in the awards season.
15. attributed means ascribed or credited to, in this case, negative narratives are usually attributed to rival strategists.
02. commences means begins or starts, in this case, the job of the Oscar campaign strategists.
11. prolific means producing many works, results, or achievements, in this case, Top Gun: Maverick was very successful at the box office.
14. resurgence means a revival or reawakening, in this case, Brendan Fraser’s resurgence in popularity after being nominated for his acumen in The Whale.
04. gauge means assess, evaluate, or measure, in this case, to assess the competition during the Oscars campaign trail.
10. disseminated means spread or distributed, in this case, spreading information about the Oscar nominees through awards consultants.
05. electorate means the group of people who have the right to vote, in this case, the voting body of about 10,000 industry peers who vote for the Oscars.
13. prevail means triumph or be successful, in this case, a compelling narrative can prevail over a poorly made movie during the Oscars campaign.
08. narratives means a story or account of events, in this case, the story behind a film or a particular aspect of the film used to create a compelling narrative for the Oscars campaign.
01. breed means a group of people who share similar characteristics or qualities, in this case, professional strategists who specialize in orchestrating Oscar campaigns.
[exuberant] means lively, energetic, and exciting, in this case, describing the sci-fi romp Everything Everywhere All at Once.
[acumen] means skill or expertise, in this case, Brendan Fraser’s skill in acting.

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04. racial means relating to or based on differences in racial characteristics; often used to refer to discrimination or prejudice based on race.
01. entailed means involved or required as a necessary part or consequence.
06. exorbitant means unreasonably high or excessive in amount.
09. lobbied means to seek to influence (a politician or public official) on an issue.
08. inconspicuous means not noticeable or prominent; attracting little attention.
07. retribution means punishment inflicted on someone as vengeance for a wrong or criminal act.
03. insinuated means suggested or hinted at something unpleasant or derogatory.
05. absurd means completely ridiculous or unreasonable.
10. stunts means a bold or daring action, usually intended to attract attention. In this context, it refers to shameless publicity stunts used for awards campaigning.
02. contention means a heated disagreement or argument.
[anonymity] means the condition of being anonymous, or unknown or unnamed.