Question

Select the word from the options below that is farthest in meaning to the word in capital letters.
DEFUSE
a) control
b) understand
c) aggravate
d) decelerate

Answer 1

Hint: Defuse means to lessen the danger of a situation. This comes from the literal meaning of “defuse” which is “de” and “fuse”. We usually defuse an electric fuse when it is short-circuiting to prevent any fire or other accident. Find the word which is not similar to the word defuse.

Complete answer:
Option a is control. To control something is similar to the word defuse because defuse means to control a dangerous situation as well. Therefore, it is the wrong answer.
Option b is understand. This word is not related to the word defuse. We have to find a word which is like an opposite to it and not something which is completely unrelated to it.
Option c is aggravate. To aggravate something means to increase its intensity. For example, suppose your friend is very angry. You do something which angers her even more. This would mean that you aggravated her anger. This word is very far from the meaning of the given word “defuse”. It has the opposite meaning to “defuse”.
Option d is decelerate. Decelerate means to slow down. It is the opposite of the world to accelerate. Decelerate is very close in meaning to “defuse” and since we have to find out the word which is farthest in meaning to the given word, option d is wrong.

Note:
Don’t get confused between option b and c. If the question is saying that you have to find the word is farthest in meaning to the given word, it means they are asking for the opposite of the given word and not a word that is completely unrelated to it. Therefore, the word which is opposite to the given word is the correct answer.