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Difficulty: HardAntonyms and Words Opposite in Meaning

In the following sentence, one word is printed in capital letters. Select the option that is MOST NEARLY OPPOSITE IN MEANING to the capitalized word.

Despite the board's increasingly authoritarian demands, the new managing director proved remarkably COMPLAISANT, acquiescing to every policy change without objection.

Which of the following words is most nearly opposite in meaning to COMPLAISANT as used in the sentence?

  1. recalcitrantAnswer
  2. B
    acquiescent
  3. C
    complacent
  4. D
    accommodating

Answer

recalcitrant
In the sentence, 'complaisant' means overly agreeable, obliging, or yielding to the wishes of others without resistance. The word 'recalcitrant' means obstinately resistant to authority, uncooperative, or stubbornly defiant, which is the exact opposite of being complaisant.

Step-by-Step Solution

1
Analyze the target word in context
In the sentence, 'complaisant' describes a director who yields easily and acquiesces to every demand made by an authoritarian board.
Understanding the contextual meaning is necessary to identify its precise antonym.
2
Determine the required opposite meaning
The antonym must mean stubborn, defiant, or unwilling to yield or comply with demands.
The question asks for the word most nearly opposite in meaning.
3
Evaluate the option choices against the required antonym
'Recalcitrant' means obstinately defiant of authority or restraint, perfectly contradicting 'complaisant'.
'Acquiescent' and 'accommodating' are synonyms, while 'complacent' is an easily confused paronym meaning self-satisfied.

Key Concept

Identifying Contextual Antonyms
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Topics

Antonyms and Words Opposite in Meaning

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