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Vocabulary Builder — Essay & Answer Writing

Countenance

verb / KOWN-tuh-nuhns / Medium
Meaning

To accept, tolerate, or give approval to; to sanction a practice or action

Origin / Etymology

Old French 'contenance' (bearing, demeanor), from Latin 'continentia'

Synonyms
Sanction Condone
Antonyms
Denounce Repudiate
Example Sentence
"India told the East Asia Summit that attacks on seafarers and civilian shipping cannot be countenanced, framing freedom of navigation as a shared economic interest rather than a partisan position."
🎯 UPSC Usage

Useful in GS2 and Essay answers on diplomacy to state that a state formally refuses to tolerate a practice, e.g., 'New Delhi has made clear it will not countenance any unilateral attempt to alter the status quo on the border.'

Relevant Subjects
International Relations
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