Question

Difficulty: Very hardSynonyms and Words Nearest in Meaning

Complete the sentence below by filling in the blank with a word that is nearest in meaning to the underlined word in context.

Answer:Despite the committee's expectation of a brief overview, the auditor's fastidious examination of the account ledgers exposed subtle discrepancies, as her 【meticulous】 methodology left no detail unscrutinized.

Answer

The word nearest in meaning to 'fastidious' in this context is 'meticulous' (or 'scrupulous', 'painstaking', 'exacting').
In formal and academic contexts, 'fastidious' signifies showing great attention to detail and high standards of accuracy. Words like 'meticulous', 'scrupulous', and 'painstaking' convey this exact meaning.

Step-by-Step Solution

1
Analyze the context of the sentence to understand the specific role of the target word.
The clue 'left no detail unscrutinized' shows that the auditor worked with extreme care, precision, and thoroughness.
Contextual clues reveal the precise semantic nuance of the target word within formal administrative/financial discourse.
2
Identify the contextual definition of 'fastidious'.
In this formal context, 'fastidious' means very attentive to and concerned about accuracy and detail.
Understanding the exact dictionary and contextual meaning allows for precise synonym matching.
3
Determine suitable synonyms that fit grammatically and semantically into the blank.
Words such as 'meticulous', 'scrupulous', 'painstaking', or 'exacting' accurately convey extreme attention to detail.
Substituting these words maintains both the meaning and structural integrity of the sentence.

Key Concept

Contextual Vocabulary and Precise Synonyms
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