Question

Difficulty: MediumSynonyms and Words Nearest in Meaning

The committee's clandestine meetings angered the public, who demanded total transparency in the allocation of state funds. Which word is nearest in meaning to the underlined word?

  1. covertAnswer
  2. B
    overt
  3. C
    illegal
  4. D
    routine

Answer

The word nearest in meaning to 'clandestine' is 'covert'.
The term 'clandestine' describes actions conducted in secrecy or kept hidden from public view. The sentence contrasts these secret meetings with the public's demand for 'total transparency'. Therefore, the word 'covert', which means hidden or secret, is nearest in meaning.

Step-by-Step Solution

1
Analyze the context of the underlined word in the sentence.
The phrase 'demanded total transparency' contrasts directly with the nature of the committee's meetings, indicating that 'clandestine' means secret or concealed.
Contextual contrast clues highlight the target word's core meaning.
2
Evaluate the option choices to find the closest synonym.
'Covert' means secret, hidden, or stealthy, matching the contextual meaning of 'clandestine'.
Determining the precise synonym that preserves the sentence's meaning.

Key Concept

Identifying contextual synonyms for advanced vocabulary.
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