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Question

Difficulty: Very hardSynonyms and Words Nearest in Meaning

The court officials were critical of the clerk's obsequious deference to the visiting dignitaries during the formal ceremony. Which of the following words is nearest in meaning to the underlined word as used in the sentence?

  1. fawningAnswer
  2. B
    assertive
  3. C
    obscure
  4. D
    respectful

Answer

fawning
In the context of the sentence, 'obsequious' refers to an excess of deference that is overly attentive, servile, and flattering to an unnatural degree. The choice 'fawning' accurately conveys this exact sense of servile flattery.

Step-by-Step Solution

1
Analyze the contextual meaning of the underlined word in the sentence.
The sentence highlights criticism of excessive and insincere deference shown by the clerk to dignitaries.
Context clues such as 'critical of' indicate that the word 'obsequious' carries a negative tone denoting overly submissive or servile flattery.
2
Evaluate the options against the established contextual meaning.
The term 'fawning' precisely matches the meaning of excessively eager to please or servile.
Comparing definitions confirms that 'fawning' and 'obsequious' are nearest in meaning in formal register.

Key Concept

Contextual Synonym Identification
Estimated Time:1m 0s
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Topics

Synonyms and Words Nearest in Meaning

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