Direction: The following item consists of a sentence with an underlined word followed by four words. Select the option that is nearest in meaning to the underlined word and mark your response accordingly.
He drankexcessiveamount of liquor.

Question

Direction: The following item consists of a sentence with an underlined word followed by four words. Select the option that is nearest in meaning to the underlined word and mark your response accordingly.

He drankexcessiveamount of liquor.

Prepp Team · Accepted Answer

Finding the Closest Meaning for 'Excessive'

The question asks us to identify the word that is nearest in meaning to the underlined word "excessive" in the sentence "He drank excessive amount of liquor." We need to look at the options provided and understand their meanings to find the best match.

Let's break down the meaning of "excessive" and the given options.

Understanding the Word 'Excessive'

The word excessive means more than is necessary, normal, or desirable. It suggests something that goes beyond a reasonable limit, often implying a negative consequence or aspect due to the large amount or degree.

In the sentence "He drank excessive amount of liquor," it means he drank a much larger amount of liquor than is considered normal or healthy.

Analyzing the Options for Synonym of Excessive

Now let's look at the meanings of the options given:

Option 1: inculpable means not deserving blame; innocent. This relates to guilt or innocence, not quantity.
Option 2: inordinate means unusually or disproportionately large; excessive. This is a very close synonym for "excessive," particularly when referring to amount or degree.
Option 3: unreasonable means not guided by or based on good sense; going beyond the limits of acceptability. While "unreasonable" can sometimes imply an excessive amount (like an unreasonable price), its primary focus is on lack of reason or sense, or exceeding acceptable limits in a broader sense, not exclusively quantity.
Option 4: innocuous means not harmful or offensive. This relates to safety or harmlessness, not quantity.

Comparing Options and Identifying the Nearest Meaning

Comparing the meanings, we see that inordinate directly means "excessive" when referring to size, amount, or degree. While "unreasonable" can sometimes overlap in meaning, "inordinate" is a more precise synonym for "excessive" specifically in the context of a disproportionately large amount, as in the sentence.

Therefore, inordinate is the word nearest in meaning to excessive in this context.

Word	Meaning
Excessive	More than is necessary, normal, or desirable; exceeding reasonable limits.
Inculpable	Not deserving blame; innocent.
Inordinate	Unusually or disproportionately large; excessive.
Unreasonable	Not guided by or based on good sense; going beyond the limits of acceptability.
Innocuous	Not harmful or offensive.

Based on the definitions, inordinate is the best synonym for excessive among the given options, especially when describing an amount of something like liquor.

Revision Table: Understanding Synonyms

Word	Synonym (from options)	Concept Related To
Excessive	Inordinate	Quantity, Amount, Degree
Inculpable	(None suitable)	Guilt, Blame, Innocence
Unreasonable	(None suitable, sometimes overlaps with Excessive)	Reason, Logic, Acceptability
Innocuous	(None suitable)	Harm, Offense, Safety

Additional Information: Expanding Vocabulary for Synonyms

Building vocabulary involves learning synonyms and antonyms. For the word excessive, other synonyms can include:

Exorbitant (often for prices/costs)
Immoderate
Undue
Lavish
Prohibitive

Antonyms for excessive include:

Moderate
Reasonable
Insufficient
Limited
Scarce

Understanding the nuances between synonyms is key. While "inordinate" and "unreasonable" can both relate to exceeding limits, "inordinate" is particularly strong when describing an unusually large or excessive quantity or degree, fitting the context of an "excessive amount of liquor" very well.