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Difficulty: HardSynonyms and Words Nearest in Meaning

Complete the sentence below by supplying the word nearest in meaning to the underlined word.

Answer:Despite intense pressure from the governing council to compromise, the vice-chancellor remained obdurate, refusing to modify the university's admission policies. A word nearest in meaning to obdurate in this context is 【unyielding】.

Answer

unyielding (or obstinate, stubborn, adamant, inflexible)
In this context, 'obdurate' describes a person who steadfastly refuses to alter their position or yield to external pressure. Therefore, words like 'unyielding', 'obstinate', 'stubborn', 'adamant', or 'inflexible' serve as accurate synonyms.

Step-by-Step Solution

1
Analyze the context of the underlined word 'obdurate' in the sentence.
The sentence describes an administrator who refuses to compromise or modify established policies despite strong pressure.
Contextual analysis shows that the target word describes a firm, unbending, and resolute posture.
2
Determine the precise meaning of 'obdurate'.
'Obdurate' means stubbornly refusing to change one's opinion or course of action.
Understanding the formal register and denotative meaning of the word helps identify suitable contextual equivalents.
3
Identify words nearest in meaning that complete the blank.
Terms such as 'unyielding', 'obstinate', 'stubborn', 'adamant', or 'inflexible' fit the context accurately.
These synonyms convey the exact idea of refusing to yield to persuasion or pressure.

Key Concept

Contextual Synonyms and High-Level Lexis
Estimated Time:1m 30s
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Topics

Synonyms and Words Nearest in Meaning

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