Choose the most appropriate synonym of the following underlined word:
The chairman of the organisation had to intervene to solve the grievances of the staff.
Answer & explanation
Correct answer: option 3
The correct answer is Option (3) → mediate
- Intervene means to become involved in a situation in order to settle it or improve it. It comes from the Latin inter (between) + venire (to come): to come between. The chairman stepped in to settle the staff's complaints.
Example: The teacher had to intervene to stop the quarrel. - Mediate means to act between two sides to help them reach an agreement. Coming in between to settle a problem is the sense of both words, so mediate is the synonym among the options.
Example: A senior officer was asked to mediate between the union and the management.
Why the Other Options are Incorrect?
Option 1: intoxicate — Incorrect. Intoxicate means to make someone drunk, or to fill someone with great excitement.
Example: The crowd was intoxicated by the victory.
Option 2: mutter — Incorrect. Mutter means to speak in a low, unclear voice, often in complaint.
Example: He muttered something about the heat.
Option 4: shout — Incorrect. Shout means to speak very loudly; it does not settle a problem.
Example: She shouted for help.