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Difficulty: HardSynonyms and Words Nearest in Meaning

Which word nearest in meaning to 'unyielding' or 'stubborn' appropriately completes the sentence below?

Answer:Despite numerous appeals from the mediation panel, the director remained 【obdurate】 in his stance against restructuring the division.

Answer

The correct response is 'obdurate' (or synonyms such as 'intransigent', 'adamant', or 'recalcitrant'), which denotes an unyielding, stubborn refusal to alter one's position or opinion despite persuasion.
The correct terms ('obdurate', 'intransigent', 'adamant') accurately express a firm, unyielding refusal to compromise, directly aligning with the contextual contrast set by 'Despite numerous appeals'.

Step-by-Step Solution

1
Analyze the contextual clues provided in the stem sentence.
The opening prepositional phrase 'Despite numerous appeals from the mediation panel' establishes a contrast, indicating that the director refused to yield or compromise.
Evaluating contextual contrast helps determine the exact semantic trait needed for the missing word.
2
Identify words nearest in meaning to 'unyielding' or 'stubborn' fitting formal register.
Words such as 'obdurate', 'intransigent', 'adamant', and 'recalcitrant' precisely express an unyielding firmness of purpose.
JAMB UTME tests advanced lexis where the chosen synonym must match both contextual meaning and formal tone.

Key Concept

Synonyms and Contextual Word Usage
Estimated Time:1m 30s
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Topics

Synonyms and Words Nearest in Meaning

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