Select the most appropriate ANTONYM of the underlined word. The entire environment was very hostile towards us.
Finding the Antonym of Hostile
The question asks us to select the most appropriate antonym of the underlined word "hostile" in the sentence: "The entire environment was very hostile towards us."
An antonym is a word that has the opposite meaning of another word. To find the correct antonym, we first need to understand the meaning of the word "hostile".
Understanding the Word Hostile
The word "hostile" is an adjective. It is used to describe something or someone that is:
- Unfriendly and aggressive.
- Opposed to something or someone.
- Not offering a pleasant or suitable environment or situation.
In the given sentence, "The entire environment was very hostile towards us," it means the surroundings or situation were very unfriendly, unwelcoming, or perhaps even dangerous.
Analysing the Options for Antonym
Let's examine each option provided to see which one is the most appropriate opposite of "hostile":
- Antagonistic: This word means showing or feeling active opposition or hostility towards someone or something. This is actually a synonym, or very close in meaning, to "hostile", not an antonym.
- Favourable: This word means showing approval or support, or likely to lead to a good outcome; advantageous; helpful. An environment that is favourable would be welcoming, supportive, and beneficial, which is the opposite of an environment that is hostile.
- Accurate: This word means correct in all details; exact. This word is related to precision or truthfulness and has no direct opposite relationship with "hostile".
- Handy: This word means useful or convenient. This word describes practicality and does not relate to the friendliness or opposition implied by "hostile".
Comparing Hostile and Favourable
Let's look at the contrast between "hostile" and "favourable":
| Word | Meaning | Relationship to Others |
|---|---|---|
| Hostile | Unfriendly, aggressive, opposed, unwelcoming | Often associated with conflict or danger |
| Favourable | Supportive, advantageous, welcoming, helpful | Often associated with benefit or ease |
"Hostile" describes something that is against you or harmful, while "favourable" describes something that is for you or helpful. Therefore, "Favourable" is the most appropriate antonym for "hostile".
Conclusion
Based on the meanings of the words, "Favourable" is the word that is most opposite in meaning to "hostile".
Revision Table: Key Vocabulary
| Word | Type | Meaning | Antonym Example |
|---|---|---|---|
| Hostile | Adjective | Unfriendly; opposed to | Favourable |
| Antonym | Noun | A word opposite in meaning to another | Synonym |
| Synonym | Noun | A word that means the same as another word | Antonym |
| Favourable | Adjective | Showing approval; advantageous | Hostile, unfavourable |
Additional Information: Learning Antonyms and Synonyms
Learning antonyms and synonyms is a great way to improve your vocabulary and understanding of the English language. Knowing antonyms helps you to express opposite ideas clearly, while knowing synonyms helps you to vary your language and avoid repetition.
- Many words can have multiple antonyms depending on the specific context in which they are used.
- Prefixes can often help you identify antonyms (e.g., happy vs. unhappy, possible vs. impossible).
- Using a thesaurus can be a useful tool for finding both synonyms and antonyms.
- Regular practice with vocabulary exercises helps reinforce learning.
Important Questions from Miscellaneous
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