Select the word that is the most appropriate antonym of the word: Dis…

The correct answer is Option (4) → Accelerate

Note: The given answer is as per the official NTA Answer Key. However, there appears to be a discrepancy in the key: the correct answer should be Option (1) → Regulate, as explained below.

To disrupt means to break the normal order or flow of something by causing disturbance or confusion.
Example: The protest disrupted traffic in the city centre for hours.

Option 1: Regulate — Should be Correct. (Incorrect as per NTA) To regulate is to control something so that it runs in an orderly, steady way. Disrupting throws a process into disorder. Regulating keeps it in order, so regulate is the opposite of disrupt.
Example: Traffic lights regulate the flow of vehicles at a crossing.

Option 2: Forward — Incorrect. To forward is to send something on to another person or place. It has nothing to do with order or disorder.
Example: Please forward this email to the whole team.

Option 3: Atone — Incorrect. To atone is to make up for a wrong one has done. It is not related to disrupt.
Example: He tried to atone for his rudeness by sending flowers.

Option 4: Accelerate — Should be Incorrect. (But this is the correct answer in the NTA Answer Key.) To accelerate is to make something go faster. A disruption often slows a process down, so speeding it up looks like the reverse. But disrupt is about disorder, not speed, and a process can be sped up and still be thrown into disorder.
Example: The driver accelerated on the empty highway.

Advice for the exam: In the real exam, mark the answer that is grammatically or factually correct. If NTA’s provisional answer key marks a different option, challenge it during the answer-key challenge window and give the reason in one or two lines.

 

Also asked in CUET (UG): atone – 25-05-2023 Slot 1