Question

Choose the word which best expresses the meaning of the italicized part of the sentence.
In order to tarnish the public image of his opponent, he has got a mendacious story planted in the local newspaper.
a) false
b) fabricated
c) imaginary
d) horrible

Answer 1

Hint: Synonyms are words or phrases that mean exactly or nearly the same as another word or phrase. For example- ‘sad’ and ‘depressed’. Two words that can be interchanged in a context are said to be synonymous relative to that context.

Complete answer:
In the given question, the word ‘mendacious’ refers to ‘intentionally untrue’.
Let us analyze the options given to us in this question:
Option (a.), 'false', refers to ‘not in accordance with the fact or reality or actuality’.
Therefore, option (a.) is correct as its meaning is synonymous to that of the given word ‘mendacious’.
Option (b.), ‘fabricated', refers to ‘formed or conceived by the imagination; concoct something untrue’.
Therefore, option (b.) is incorrect as its meaning is not synonymous with that of the given word ‘mendacious’.
Option (c.), ‘imaginary', refers to ‘not based on fact; existing only in the imagination’.
Therefore, option (c.) is incorrect as its meaning is not synonymous with that of the given word ‘mendacious’.
Option (d.), ‘horrible', refers to ‘provoking horror’.Therefore, option (d.) is incorrect as its meaning is not synonymous with that of the given word ‘mendacious’.

Note:
If you don’t know the definition of the given word and have only used it in some given context previously, then use the given word in a sentence. Substitute the given word with each word in the options and choose the word which does not conflict with the context provided by the given word.