Question

Choose the word opposite in meaning to the italicized word:
The minister gave a public speech on the controversial subject to precipitate the matter.
A) Pull
B) Push
C) Defer
D) Create
E) Aggravate

Answer 1

Hint: Antonyms are words that have opposite or different meanings. For example: stop and go; light and dark; ugly and beautiful. Though these words are opposite of each other because of their different or opposite meanings.

Complete answer:
The meaning of precipitate is ‘to cause an event or situation, typically one that is undesirable to happen suddenly, unexpectedly, or prematurely. So, here we have to identify the word which gives the opposite meaning of the word precipitate.

Now let us look into the given options:
Option A: 'Pull' is a verb that means 'to get something closer to yourself.' This word is not an opposite word for precipitate. Therefore, this is an incorrect answer.
Option B: To 'push' something away from yourself means to move something away from yourself.' This word is not an opposite word for precipitate. Therefore, this is an incorrect answer.
Option C: Defer: The meaning of defer is ‘adjourn or delay or postpone or put off an action or event to a later time. This option gives the opposite meaning of the word precipitate. Therefore, this is the correct answer.
Option D: 'Create' refers to the act of creating something new. This word is not an opposite word for precipitate. Therefore, this is an incorrect answer.
Option E: 'Aggravate' refers to making something worse or more serious. This word is not an opposite word for precipitate. Therefore, this is an incorrect answer.

The word 'defer' means the exact opposite to the meaning of the word 'precipitate.' Therefore the correct answer is option ‘C’.

Note: There are two terms in grammar, one which gives the opposite meaning and the other word gives the same or similar meaning. These two words are termed as antonyms (opposite word) and synonyms (same word). So, the antonym or the opposite of precipitate is defer and synonym of the word precipitate is bring about or give rise to or bring on. So, Option C is the correct answer as it gives the opposite meaning of the italicized word and rest options are incorrect as these words don't have the opposite meaning as the given word.