Question

Choose the word/phrase which is opposite in meaning to the italicized bold word/phrase in the sentence.
The government is taking measures to augment the country's food supply.

a) prohibit
b) decrease
c) surpass
d) compensate

Answer 1

Hint: Antonyms are those words that express a meaning opposed to the meaning of another word, in which case the two words are antonyms of each other.

In the given question, the word ‘augment’ refers to enlarge or increase.

Complete answer:
Let us analyze the options given to us in this question:
Option (a.), 'prohibit', refers to commanding against someone or something.
Therefore, option (a.) is incorrect as its meaning is not antonymous to that of the given word ‘augment’.

Option (b.), ‘decrease', refers to a decrease in size, extent, or range.
Therefore, option (b.) is correct as its meaning is antonymous to that of the given word ‘augment’.

Option (c.), ‘surpass', refers to distinguishing oneself.
Therefore, option (c.) is incorrect as its meaning is not antonymous to that of the given word ‘augment’.

Option (d.), ‘compensate', refers to making amends for; paying compensation for.
Therefore, option (d.) is incorrect as its meaning is not antonymous to that of the given word ‘augment’.

Note:
Sometimes the given options in a question where we have to find the opposite of the given word do not exactly mean the opposite of the given word. If this happens, we have to select the option which is the most anonymous to the meaning of the word in the question.
Some antonyms of the given word ‘augment’ are- increase, extend, build up.