Question

Difficulty: Very hardSynonyms and Words Nearest in Meaning

In the sentence below, read the context carefully: 'Despite prolonged negotiations with foreign envoys, the minister remained intransigent in his stance on national sovereignty, refusing every proposed compromise.' Which of the following words is nearest in meaning to intransigent?

  1. unyieldingAnswer
  2. B
    belligerent
  3. C
    accommodating
  4. D
    treacherous

Answer

The word nearest in meaning to intransigent is unyielding.
In the given sentence, the minister is described as refusing every proposed compromise despite extended negotiations. The word 'intransigent' refers to an uncompromising attitude, making 'unyielding' the exact synonym required.

Step-by-Step Solution

1
Analyze the context of the sentence
The sentence states that despite prolonged negotiations, the minister refused every proposed compromise regarding national sovereignty.
Context dictates how the target vocabulary item functions in the sentence.
2
Define the target word 'intransigent' in context
'Intransigent' means stubbornly refusing to compromise or change an established position.
Matching contextual definition to available option choices.
3
Compare candidate synonyms with the target word
'Unyielding' directly mirrors the concept of refusing to bend or compromise. Other choices introduce unrelated traits like hostility, betrayal, or the exact opposite meaning.
Isolating the precise contextual synonym.

Key Concept

Contextual Vocabulary and Synonyms
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