Question

Against the given word, there are some alternatives, one of which is either similar in meaning (synonym) or opposite in meaning (antonym) to the word. Find out which of the following given alternatives is either a synonym or an antonym of the word.
ABATE
A) Tighten
B) Increase
C) Abandon
D) Diminish
E) Postpone

Answer 1

Hint:Synonyms are the words that have similar meaning and antonyms are the words that have opposite meanings. For example: the synonym of beautiful is pretty and adorable and the antonym of beautiful is ugly or not good looking.

Complete answer:
Here, in this particular question we have to give either synonyms or the antonym of the given word i.e. abate. Out of the options given we have to identify whether the given word has synonyms or the antonym.
So, the meaning of abate is ‘something unpleasant or severe or become less intense or widespread or subside or decrease’. So, we have to figure out the opposite meaning of the given word. Basically, to find the antonym of the word abate.
Option A) Tighten – is an incorrect answer because the meaning of tighten is ‘make or become tight or tighter or secure’ and this is not antonym of the word abate. Thus, this is an incorrect answer.
Option B) Increase - is the correct answer because the meaning of increase is ‘become or make greater in size, amount, or degree or grow or enlarge or expand’ and this is the antonym of the word abate as they have different meaning or they are opposite in meaning to each other. Thus, this is the correct answer.
Option C) Abandon - is an incorrect answer because the meaning of abandon is ‘cease to support or look after (someone); desert or disclaim’ and this is not antonym of the word abate. Thus, this is an incorrect answer.
Option D) Diminish - is an incorrect answer because the meaning of diminish is ‘make or become less or decrease or decline’ and this is not antonym of the word abate. Thus, this is an incorrect answer.
Option E) Postpone - is an incorrect answer because the meaning of postpone is ‘arranging something to take place at a time later than that first scheduled or delay or defer’ and this is not antonym of the word abate. Thus, this is an incorrect answer.

Hence the correct answer is option ‘B’.

Note: In this question where we have to find the synonym or the antonym of the given word ‘abate’. So, the antonym of the word abate is increased i.e. option B is the most appropriate answer as compared to any other option as the other options do not express the antonym of the given word. And the synonym of abate is decrease or diminish (Option D which is also given in the question).