Question

Choose the word which best expresses the opposite of the given word.
ENCOURAGE
a. Dampen
b. Disapprove
c. Discourage
d. Warm

Answer 1

Hint: We need to know or at least have an idea of the meaning of the given word encourage and the options listed to choose the correct option here. The words which have similar meaning are called synonyms and the words which best expresses the opposite of the given word are called antonyms or the opposite words.

Complete step by step answer:

The word encourage means to give support or to increase the level of confidence in someone.
The option [c] is the correct one because discourage means to express a negative opinion in someone’s favor.
The option [a] dampen means to make something a bit wet.
The option [b] disapprove means to pass an unfavorable judgment regarding a decision.
The option [d] warm means a temperature between cold and hot.
The option [c] discourage, is the word which best expresses the opposite of the given word encourage and is the perfect suitable antonym here. It becomes easy for one to find the synonyms or the antonyms if we know the meaning of each and every word in the sentence and the options so that we don’t end up getting our answers wrong.

Note: Students should eliminate the words which have a similar meaning as the word encourage and look for the words which have the nearest contrasting meaning for the word encourage.