Question

Choose the option which means the opposite of the given word:
Deserter

a. Sympathiser
b. Favourite
c. Flatterer
d. Loyalist

Answer 1

Hint: The word ‘deserter’ refers to ‘a member of the armed forces who deserts’.

Complete step by step answer:
The word ‘deserter’ was originally only used for soldiers who deserted their army. However, it has now evolved into being used in a more general sense. It can be used in a sentence as follows:
For example, in the sentence ‘The deserter of his father suffered in his last few days’, the word ‘deserter’ does not refer to a soldier, instead, it refers to a regular person who left the father.

Now, we know the meaning and usage of the word. Let’s look at the given options:

a. Sympathiser - The word ‘sympathiser’ refers to ‘a person who agrees with or supports a sentiment, opinion, or ideology’. This word has a completely different meaning to the given word. It is not the required antonym. So, this is an incorrect option.
b. Favourite - The word ‘favourite’ refers to ‘a person or thing that is preferred to all others of the same kind or is especially well liked’. This also has a very different meaning to the given word. However, it is not the antonym. So, this is an incorrect option.
c. Flatterer - The word ‘flatterer’ refers to ‘a person who lavishes praise, often insincerely; a sycophant’. This word is unrelated to the given word. It is not the antonym of ‘deserter’. So, this is an incorrect option.
d. Loyalist - The word ‘loyalist’ refers to ‘a person who is loyal’. This has the exact opposite meaning of the given word. So, this is the correct option.

Note: Do not confuse the words ‘flatterer’ and ‘sympathiser’. They refer to actions that are different from the given word. Try to find the word that means the exact opposite of ‘deserter’.