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Difficulty: MediumSynonyms and Words Nearest in Meaning

The presiding judge issued a stern reprimand to the defense attorney for employing dilatory tactics that repeatedly postponed the trial proceedings.

Which of the following words is nearest in meaning to the underlined word as used in the sentence?

  1. procrastinatingAnswer
  2. B
    expeditious
  3. C
    deceitful
  4. D
    argumentative

Answer

The word nearest in meaning to 'dilatory' is 'procrastinating'.
The word 'dilatory' is derived from Latin roots meaning to defer or delay. In the sentence, the defense attorney's tactics 'repeatedly postponed' the trial, confirming that the word means slow-paced or procrastinating. Therefore, 'procrastinating' is the correct synonym.

Step-by-Step Solution

1
Analyze the contextual clues in the sentence.
The clause 'that repeatedly postponed the trial proceedings' indicates that the tactics were intended to cause delays.
Contextual clues in JAMB UTME questions define the specific sense of the target word.
2
Define the target word 'dilatory'.
'Dilatory' means slow to act, unhurried, or intended to cause delay or procrastination.
Establishing the precise definition allows for evaluation against option choices.
3
Match with the closest option.
'Procrastinating' directly captures the meaning of causing deliberate delay.
Selecting the synonym that maintains grammatical and semantic fit.

Key Concept

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

Synonyms and Words Nearest in Meaning

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