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Question

Difficulty: HardAntonyms and Words Opposite in Meaning

While the board of directors expected an exhaustive audit, the chief inspector provided only a PERFUNCTORY examination of the financial statements. Which word is opposite in meaning to the capitalized word as used in the sentence?

  1. painstakingAnswer
  2. B
    superficial
  3. C
    cursory
  4. D
    functional

Answer

The word opposite in meaning to 'PERFUNCTORY' is 'painstaking'.
In the given sentence, 'PERFUNCTORY' is used to describe an examination that is conducted hastily, casually, and without interest or thoroughness. The word 'painstaking' means showing intense diligence, care, and meticulous attention to detail, making it the precise antonym required.

Step-by-Step Solution

1
Analyze the contextual meaning of the capitalized word 'PERFUNCTORY'.
In the sentence, 'perfunctory' describes an examination done hastily, superficially, and without genuine care or detail.
Understanding the context is essential for identifying the precise contextual antonym.
2
Identify the word among the choices that expresses the exact opposite idea.
'Painstaking' means showing diligent care and meticulous thoroughness, which directly opposes the careless and superficial nature of 'perfunctory'.
A contextual antonym must provide the contrasting meaning appropriate for describing an examination or evaluation.

Key Concept

Identifying contextual antonyms for formal English vocabulary in complex sentence structures.
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Topics

Antonyms and Words Opposite in Meaning

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