Question

Choose the word opposite in meaning to the given word.
BAULK
A. Admire
B. Strengthen
C. Clamour
E. Encourage

Answer 1

Hint: The word Baulk means unwilling and hesitant to do or accept something. For example, the teacher was baulked to such an excuse by her student.

Complete step by step answer:
Let us decipher each word in the options. We can easily eliminate the words that are not related to the word Baulk

A. Admire: The word ‘Admire’ means to praise someone or something with respect and show approval. For example, Jack admired his friend for working in the pandemic. The word admire has no relation whatsoever with Baulk. Hence, option A is incorrect.
B. Strengthen: The word ‘Strengthen’ means to make something or someone stronger or more effective. For example, The wind continued to strengthen throughout the evening. Similarly, the word strengthen is neither related to the word Baulk nor the opposite of it. Hence, option b) is incorrect.
C. Clamour: The word ‘Clamour’ refers to making a loud and confused noise demanding something by a large number of people. For example, The teacher could not hear anything above the clamour of the students. Hence, option c) is not the opposite of Baulk.
D. Encourage: The word ‘encourage’ means to to make someone confident and make them more likely to do something. For example, The government should encourage more people to join the armed forces. The opposite of ‘Baulk’ should be to give support and confidence to do something. Hence, Option D is the correct answer.

Hence, The correct option is D .

Note:
The original use of Baulk was in the english sense ‘obstacle’, which gave rise to the verb senses ‘hesitate’ and ‘hinder’. Hence the meaning of Baulk was hesitant. Baulk refers to a negative action, while ‘encourage’ refers to a positive action.