Guardian Neutrality should not be an option

a tipping point

the critical moment when a small change leads to a significant and often irreversible effect.
Register: [formal / figurative]
SYN: turning point, breaking point
OPP: stability, equilibrium
Collocations: reach a ~, push past a ~, the ~ in history
Examples:

• Climate change may soon reach a ~.

• His anger hit a ~ and erupted.

• The protest marked the ~ for reform.

• A ~ in the market caused mass panic.

obscene /əbˈsin/

offensive, morally shocking, or indecent; often used for behavior, language, or amounts.
Register: [formal / critical]
SYN: indecent, shocking, vulgar
OPP: decent, appropriate
Collocations: ~ language, ~ wealth, ~ behavior
Examples:

• He shouted ~ insults at the referee.

• The CEO earns an ~ salary.

• Critics condemned the ~ display of luxury.

• The film was banned for being ~.

repulsive /rɪˈpʌlsɪv/

extremely unpleasant, disgusting, or offensive.
Register: [formal / descriptive]
SYN: revolting, nauseating
OPP: appealing, attractive
Collocations: ~ smell, ~ behavior, find sth ~
Examples:

• The food had a ~ odor.

• His cruelty was ~.

• She found his arrogance ~.

• The idea was utterly ~ to them.

backlash /ˈbækˌlæʃ/

a strong negative reaction by a large group of people, often against social or political change.
Register: [neutral / journalistic]
SYN: opposition, resistance
OPP: support, acceptance
Collocations: face a ~, spark a ~, provoke a ~
Examples:

• The policy sparked a public ~.

• She faced a severe ~ online.

• The decision led to a political ~.

• A cultural ~ arose after the scandal.

revoke /rɪˈvoʊk/

to officially cancel or withdraw a law, decision, or privilege.
Register: [formal / legal]
SYN: rescind, annul, withdraw
OPP: grant, enact
Collocations: ~ a license, ~ a law, ~ permission
Examples:

• The government decided to ~ the policy.

• His passport was ~d after the crime.

• The judge ~d her parole.

• They threatened to ~ his license.

relentless /rɪˈlɛntləs/

continuing without pause or giving up; determined and harsh.
Register: [neutral / formal]
SYN: persistent, unyielding, merciless
OPP: lenient, merciful, flexible
Collocations: ~ pursuit, ~ pressure, ~ criticism
Examples:

• The heat was ~ all day.

• She faced ~ questioning from reporters.

• He was ~ in his ambition.

• The waves crashed with ~ force.

demeaning /dɪˈminɪŋ/

causing a loss of respect or dignity; humiliating.
Register: [formal / critical]
SYN: degrading, humiliating
OPP: dignified, respectful
Collocations: ~ task, ~ remark, feel ~ed
Examples:

• The work was ~ to her skills.

• He made a ~ comment about her.

• She felt ~ed by their treatment.

• Such ~ jokes are unacceptable.

shilly-shally /ˈʃɪliˌʃæli/

to hesitate or waste time in making a decision; indecisiveness.
Register: [informal / old-fashioned]
SYN: dither, hesitate, procrastinate
OPP: decide, act decisively
Collocations: ~ over a choice, stop ~ing, ~ for hours
Examples:

• Stop ~ing and make a decision.

• He ~ed about signing the deal.

• They ~ed until the chance was gone.

• She ~ed between two options.

bamboozle /bæmˈbuːzəl/

to trick, confuse, or deceive someone, often playfully or cunningly.
Register: [informal]
SYN: deceive, trick, hoodwink
OPP: enlighten, inform
Collocations: ~ the audience, ~ a friend, feel ~d
Examples:

• The magician ~d the crowd with illusions.

• He tried to ~ his boss with excuses.

• They were ~d into signing the contract.

• She felt ~d by the complex jargon.

illustrious /ɪˈlʌstriəs/

highly respected and admired for past achievements; celebrated and distinguished.
Register: [formal / literary]
SYN: distinguished, eminent, renowned /rɪˈnaʊnd/
OPP: obscure, unknown, insignificant
Collocations: an ~ career, an ~ leader, an ~ history
Examples:

• She had an ~ career in medicine.

• The hall is filled with portraits of ~ leaders.

• He comes from an ~ family of scholars.

• The prize honors an ~ contribution to science.