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Difficulty: Very hardSynonyms and Words Nearest in Meaning

Complete the sentence below by identifying a word nearest in meaning to 'obdurate' as used in the given context.

Answer:Despite fierce criticism from committee members, the director remained obdurate in his stance, demonstrating an entirely 【uncompromising】 posture regarding the restructuring of the agency.

Answer

An appropriate word nearest in meaning to 'obdurate' in this context is 'uncompromising' (or 'inflexible', 'unyielding', 'intransigent').
In the context of resisting external criticism to maintain a stance, 'obdurate' means stubbornly unyielding. Therefore, terms such as 'uncompromising', 'inflexible', 'unyielding', or 'intransigent' accurately convey the intended semantic meaning.

Step-by-Step Solution

1
Analyze the contextual meaning of 'obdurate' in the stem.
In administrative and policy contexts, 'obdurate' refers to someone who is stubbornly resistant to persuasion or unwilling to alter their position despite pressure.
Evaluating the surrounding phrase ('despite fierce criticism... remained obdurate') highlights unbending resistance.
2
Select a precise synonym that fits the grammatical slot preceding 'posture'.
Adjectives such as 'uncompromising', 'inflexible', 'unyielding', or 'intransigent' directly reflect the refusal to compromise or yield.
The sentence structure requires an adjectival synonym that conveys firm, unbending resolve.

Key Concept

Contextual Synonyms and Lexical Precision
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Topics

Synonyms and Words Nearest in Meaning

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