Which of the following pairs of homonyms can be used to fill in the blanks most suitably? The negotiator managed to ____ the tension in the room before it could ____ into a full-blown conflict.
defuse, diffuse
This question tests the near-homophones "defuse" and "diffuse", which are easily confused.
"Defuse" (verb) means to reduce or remove the danger or tension in a situation, like defusing a bomb.
"Diffuse" (verb) means to spread out or scatter over a wide area.
The first blank, "managed to ____ the tension", needs the sense of calming it down, so "defuse" fits.
The second blank, "before it could ____ into a full-blown conflict", needs the sense of spreading, so "diffuse" fits.
Therefore the correct pair, in order, is defuse, diffuse.
The pairs "diffuse, defuse", "alleviate, elevate" and "elevate, alleviate" either reverse the meaning or do not fit both blanks logically.
Similar Questions
Which of the following options is NOT one of the meanings of the homonym 'advance'?
Which of the following options is NOT one of the meanings of the homonym 'resolution'?
Which of the following pairs of homonyms can be used to fill in the blanks most suitably?
As his ____ ring slipped from his finger and sank into the pond, a curious ____ paddled over and, mistaking it for food, swallowed it whole.
Pick the correctly used homonym.
Which of the following options is NOT one of the meanings of the homonym 'record'?
Select the sentence containing the homonym of the highlighted word:
He ran a 100-meter dash to the finish line.
Select the sentence containing the homonym of the highlighted word:
She gave him a small wave before leaving.
Which of the following options is not one of the meanings of the homonym 'content'?
Select the sentence containing the homonym of the highlighted word:
The hunters waited patiently for the duck to land.
Which of the following pairs of homonyms can be used to fill in the blanks most suitably?
As the lonely ____ wailed over the lake, the pale ____ rose slowly, casting silver ripples on the water.
Important Questions from Homophones
Fill in the blank with the appropriate homonym :
He left the meeting in a fit of __________ .
Fill in the blank with the appropriate homonym :
A __________ gives us his words of wisdom.
Fill in the blank with the most appropriate word.
Our ______ is a man of ______.
Select the most appropriate option to fill in the blank.
I don't know ______ you would like my suggestion. But the ______ is bad and you shouldn't go out at this time of the night.
Fill in the blank with the appropriate homonym :
He edits a ____________ weekly journal.
