Acaparado

Acaparado (Spanish, past participle of 'acaparar') describes something that is monopolized, cornered, hoarded, or controlled exclusively, often unfairly, by a single entity or group. It implies a lack of access or distribution, often leading to scarcity or inflated prices. The word can be applied to tangible goods, such as commodities or resources, as well as intangible assets like information or opportunities. It highlights an imbalance of power and a situation where others are excluded or disadvantaged.

Acaparado meaning with examples

• The wealthy corporation acaparado the majority of land suitable for farming, leading to a shortage and high food prices for the local community. The small farmers struggled to compete, unable to secure their own plots. This exclusive control affected the livelihoods of many people, leaving them unable to provide food for themselves or their families due to the inequitable distribution. The government needed to intervene and regulate the land distribution.
• During the pandemic, the pharmaceutical companies acaparado the initial supply of vaccines. This scarcity initially restricted access for many countries and hindered the global effort to control the virus. The situation raised ethical questions about the priority of profit over public health. Many felt this control was a significant ethical misstep, further highlighting the impact of inequitable vaccine distribution across the world.
• The journalist accused the ruling party of acaparado the media channels, ensuring only their perspective was presented to the public. Independent news sources struggled to reach a wide audience. This biased control of information and the ensuing effect of suppressing opposing voices became very serious. In the long run, this impacted critical and important political discourse and debate across the nation and amongst its citizens.
• The university professor complained about how the online learning platform was acaparado by a few students who dominated the discussion boards. They consistently answered questions and shared resources, while others didn't even have the chance to speak or learn properly from peers. The imbalance in participation and the lack of inclusive strategies hampered learning.