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Question

Difficulty: HardAntonyms and Words Opposite in Meaning

Which word opposite in meaning to the bold word completes the sentence correctly?

Although the senior financial analysts remained remarkably SANGUINE about the market's recovery, the venture capital board grew increasingly {{blank_1}} following three consecutive quarters of declining revenue.

Answer:Although the senior financial analysts remained remarkably SANGUINE about the market's recovery, the venture capital board grew increasingly 【pessimistic】 following three consecutive quarters of declining revenue.

Answer

pessimistic (or despondent / gloomy / morose)
In the sentence, 'SANGUINE' describes an optimistic and confident outlook regarding economic recovery. The introductory conjunction 'Although' signals that the missing word must contrast with optimism. Therefore, words indicating a negative, doubtful, or hopeless outlook—such as 'pessimistic', 'despondent', or 'gloomy'—provide the exact opposite meaning required.

Step-by-Step Solution

1
Analyze the target word in its sentence context.
The word 'SANGUINE' in this context means optimistic, hopeful, or confident regarding a future outcome.
Identifying the contextual meaning of the highlighted vocabulary word is essential before determining its antonym.
2
Identify structural clues signalling contrast.
The sentence begins with the subordinating conjunction 'Although', establishing a direct contrast between the analysts' positive posture and the venture capital board's reaction to bad financial news.
Conjunctions of concession like 'although' indicate that the missing word must express the semantic opposite of 'sanguine'.
3
Formulate the correct antonym to fill the blank.
Words such as 'pessimistic', 'despondent', or 'gloomy' accurately express a negative, doubtful, or hopeless outlook.
These terms directly oppose the optimistic connotation of 'sanguine' in a financial forecasting context.

Key Concept

Identifying contextual antonyms using sentence contrast clues
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Topics

Antonyms and Words Opposite in Meaning

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