Question

Find the synonym of the underlined word.
The abandoned boat was found miles away from the shore; they never found out who had been on it.
a. Cherished
b. Deserted
c. Shabby
d. Austere
e. Unabashed

Answer 1

Hint: A synonym refers to a word that is similar in meaning to another word. Abandoned is a verb which means to be forsaken.

Complete answer:

 If something is abandoned, it means that it has been left all by itself for a long period of time. The word abandoned has been derived from the Old French word abandoner.

Let’s look at its usage:
Example- The new curriculum was abandoned after teachers and students pointed out the many errors in it. Here, it means that the new syllabus was given up because it was full of errors.
Let’s examine the given options:
a. Cherished – This option means to protect or care for someone lovingly. It is different in meaning to abandoned. Hence, it is an incorrect option.
b. Deserted- This option means to turn one’s back on something. It is similar in meaning to abandoned. Hence, it is the correct option.
c. Shabby- This option means to be in a poor condition. It is different in meaning to abandoned. Hence, it is an incorrect option.
d. Austere- This option means to be severe or strict in manner. It is different in meaning to abandoned. Hence, it is an incorrect option.
e. Unabashed - This option means to not be embarrassed or ashamed. It is different in meaning to abandoned. Hence, it is an incorrect option.

So, the correct answer is “Option c”.

Note: Deserted means to be forsaken whereas shabby means to be in a poor condition due to abandonment. Other synonyms of abandoned include stranded and neglected.