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Question

Difficulty: HardAntonyms and Words Opposite in Meaning

Complete the sentence below by filling in the blank with a word that is MOST NEARLY OPPOSITE in meaning to the capitalized word.

Answer:While the outgoing minister's speech was expected to be ACRIMONIOUS, his actual remarks turned out to be remarkably 【harmonious】.

Answer

harmonious (or cordial / amicable / conciliatory)
The sentence contrasts an expected bitter, hostile speech ('acrimonious') with the actual speech given. To complete the contrast accurately, the blank requires a word denoting friendliness, peace, or goodwill, such as 'harmonious', 'cordial', 'amicable', or 'conciliatory'.

Step-by-Step Solution

1
Analyze the meaning of the capitalized word 'ACRIMONIOUS' in context.
'ACRIMONIOUS' means angry, bitter, full of resentment, or sharp in language and tone.
Determining the accurate contextual meaning of the target word is essential before searching for its antonym.
2
Identify the contrastive relationship established by the sentence structure.
The subordinating conjunction 'While' sets up a contrast between what was expected ('acrimonious') and what actually occurred.
The blank requires a word that directly opposes bitterness and hostility to complete the intended contrast.
3
Select a suitable contextual antonym.
Words such as 'harmonious', 'cordial', 'amicable', or 'conciliatory' express friendliness, peace, or goodwill.
These terms serve as precise opposite meanings to 'acrimonious' in the context of a public speech or delivery.

Key Concept

Antonyms and Contextual Word Opposition
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Topics

Antonyms and Words Opposite in Meaning

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