Four words have been given of which three are alike in some way and one is different. Choose the odd one out.
CHERISH
Finding the Odd Word Out: CHERISH, ABHORRED, DESPISE, LOATHE
The question asks us to identify the word that is different from the other three in the given list: CHERISH, ABHORRED, DESPISE, and LOATHE.
To solve this type of question, we need to understand the meaning of each word and look for a common relationship or theme among three of the words, which the fourth word does not share.
Understanding the Meanings of the Words
Let's look at the meaning of each word:
- CHERISH: To protect and care for someone or something lovingly; to hold dearly or feel deep affection for. It implies holding something precious and valued.
- ABHORRED: This is the past participle of 'abhor'. To abhor means to regard with disgust and hatred. It implies a strong feeling of repulsion and intense dislike.
- DESPISE: To feel a strong contempt for or deep repugnance toward. It implies looking down on someone or something with scorn and intense dislike.
- LOATHE: To feel intense dislike or disgust for. It implies a strong feeling of aversion and hatred.
Analyzing the Relationship Between the Words
Now, let's compare the meanings:
- ABHORRED, DESPISE, and LOATHE all describe strong negative feelings towards something or someone. They all relate to intense dislike, hatred, disgust, or contempt.
- CHERISH, on the other hand, describes a positive feeling of love, care, and affection. It relates to holding something dear and valuable.
We can see that three of the words express a strong negative emotion, while one word expresses a positive emotion.
Identifying the Odd Word
Based on the analysis of their meanings, ABHORRED, DESPISE, and LOATHE belong to a group of words indicating intense negative feelings of dislike or hatred. CHERISH stands apart as it indicates a positive feeling of love and care.
Therefore, CHERISH is the odd one out because its meaning is opposite to the meanings of the other three words.
| Word | Meaning Summary | Connotation (Positive/Negative) |
|---|---|---|
| CHERISH | Protect, care for lovingly; hold dear | Positive |
| ABHORRED | Regard with disgust and hatred | Negative |
| DESPISE | Feel strong contempt/repugnance; intense dislike | Negative |
| LOATHE | Feel intense dislike/disgust | Negative |
Conclusion
The word that is different from the others is CHERISH.
Revision Table: Understanding Vocabulary Differences
| Word | Core Feeling |
|---|---|
| CHERISH | Love, Care, Affection |
| ABHORRED | Intense Dislike, Hatred |
| DESPISE | Intense Dislike, Contempt |
| LOATHE | Intense Dislike, Disgust |
Additional Information: Antonyms and Synonyms
Understanding antonyms (words with opposite meanings) and synonyms (words with similar meanings) can help identify the relationships between words in odd-one-out questions.
- Synonyms for ABHORRED, DESPISE, and LOATHE could include detest, hate, strongly dislike.
- Antonyms for these words (and synonyms for CHERISH) could include love, admire, appreciate, value, treasure.
The question effectively groups three synonyms (or near-synonyms) related to strong dislike and contrasts them with a word that is an antonym, relating to positive regard and affection.
Important Questions from Meaning Based
In the following question, a pair of words is given followed by four pairs of words as alternatives. The candidate is required to choose the pair in which the words bear the same relationship to each other as the words of the given pair bear.
Apostate : Religion
Select the word-pair that best represents a similar relationship to the one expressed in the pair of words given below.
(The words must be considered as meaningful English words and must not be related to each other based on the number of letters/number of consonants/vowels in the word.)
Admit ∶ Deny
Find the odd number/letters from the given alternatives.
Find the odd word from the given alternatives.
In the question, select the related word pair from the given alternatives.
Dullness : Exhaustion :: ?
