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Difficulty: MediumSynonyms and Words Nearest in Meaning

The minister's acrimonious remarks during the parliamentary debate alienated several key coalition members. Which word is nearest in meaning to the underlined word?

  1. bitterAnswer
  2. B
    harmonious
  3. C
    pungent
  4. D
    eloquent

Answer

The word nearest in meaning to 'acrimonious' is 'bitter'.
In this context, 'acrimonious' refers to speech that is harsh, angry, and full of resentment or ill feeling. Therefore, 'bitter' is the choice nearest in meaning.

Step-by-Step Solution

1
Analyze the target word in its context.
The target word 'acrimonious' describes remarks that caused alienation and rift among parliamentary coalition members.
Context clues indicate a negative, angry tone that damages political relationships.
2
Determine the contextual meaning of 'acrimonious'.
In formal vocabulary, 'acrimonious' means caustic, angry, or full of bitterness.
Understanding the precise definition ensures accurate selection among subtle options.
3
Evaluate the choices to find the closest synonym.
'bitter' matches the hostile and resentful tone required by the context.
'bitter' directly captures the essence of sharp, ill-tempered speech.

Key Concept

Contextual Synonyms and Lexical Meaning
Estimated Time:1m 0s
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Topics

Synonyms and Words Nearest in Meaning

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