1. The government’s attempt to ________ the news of the scandal was ultimately unsuccessful.

2. I’m afraid your explanation is ________; it doesn't account for the most recent data.

3. After the merger, the company’s share price was ________, and many investors lost money.

4. The new policy is designed to ________ the gap between the rich and the poor.

5. He’s been ________ with the idea of writing a novel for years.

6. The project was ________ from the start due to a lack of clear leadership.

7. It’s important to ________ with the latest trends in the fashion industry.

8. The company’s decision to move production offshore has ________ a lot of anger among workers.

9. I was ________ with delight when I received the invitation to the royal wedding.

10. We need to ________ the costs and benefits of the new project before we can proceed.

11. The pianist’s performance was ________, and the audience gave her a standing ovation.

12. He’s always ________ his own trumpet, which can be quite off-putting for his colleagues.

13. The witness's testimony was ________ by the physical evidence found at the crime scene.

14. We need to ________ a new marketing strategy to attract younger customers.

15. The news of her resignation came as a ________ out of the blue.

16. She’s been ________ the midnight oil lately to prepare for her final exams.

17. The team’s performance has been ________ lately, and they need to find their winning form again.

18. I’m a bit ________ for cash at the moment; could you lend me some money?

19. The new product has ________ a lot of interest among tech enthusiasts.

20. It's a ________; if we invest in new technology, we’ll be more efficient, but we’ll also have higher debt.

21. The lawyer tried to ________ doubt on the validity of the contract.

22. He has a tendency to ________ the point even when everyone has already agreed with him.

23. The results of the investigation were ________, and no charges were filed.

24. We had to ________ our plans for the expansion because of the economic downturn.

25. The country is on the ________ of a major political change.