Identify the word opposite in meaning to the underlined word in the given sentences:-
No amount of assurance from us could assuage her grief.
Answer & explanation
Correct answer: option 4
The correct answer is Option (4) → Exacerbate
To assuage means to make an unpleasant feeling, such as grief, pain or fear, less intense. The sentence says that no amount of assurance could ease her grief. Its antonym is exacerbate.
Example: The doctor's kind words helped to assuage his fears.
| Word | Meaning | Example |
|---|---|---|
| (1) Ameliorate | to make something bad better (it is close in meaning to assuage, not opposite) | The new scheme will ameliorate the condition of poor farmers. |
| (2) Conciliate | to calm someone's anger or win them over by friendly acts (it too softens a bad feeling, so it is not an opposite) | The manager tried to conciliate the angry customers with free coupons. |
| (3) Placate | to make someone less angry or upset (a synonym of assuage) | The mother placated the crying child with a toy. |
| (4) Exacerbate (answer) | to make a problem or a bad feeling worse (easing grief and making it worse are opposite actions) | Scratching will only exacerbate the itching. |
| Synonyms of assuage: ease, soothe, alleviate, placate Antonyms of assuage: exacerbate, aggravate, worsen, intensify Also asked in CUET (UG): assuage – 21-05-2026 Slot 1, 13-05-2025 Slot 1, 09-06-2023 Slot 2 placate – 27-05-2025 Slot 1, 23-05-2025 Slot 1, 15-05-2024 Slot 1 exacerbate – 14-05-2026 Slot 2, 14-05-2026 Slot 1 |