Choose the most appropriate synonym of the following underlined word:
A severe dog bite in his youth has left him with an aversion for all canines.
Answer & explanation
Correct answer: option 4
The correct answer is Option (4) → dislike
- Aversion means a strong dislike of something, or a wish to keep away from it. It comes from the Latin avertere (to turn away). The dog bite left him with a strong dislike of all dogs.
Example: She has an aversion to crowded places. - Dislike means a feeling of not liking someone or something. Both words describe the same feeling, so dislike is the synonym (aversion is the stronger word).
Example: He has a dislike of spicy food.
Why the Other Options are Incorrect?
Option 1: appreciation — Incorrect. Appreciation means recognising and enjoying the good qualities of someone or something; it is close to the opposite of aversion.
Example: She has a deep appreciation of classical music.
Option 2: friendship — Incorrect. Friendship means a relationship between friends; it shows liking, not dislike.
Example: Their friendship lasted for many years.
Option 3: patience — Incorrect. Patience means the ability to wait or put up with difficulty calmly; it says nothing about liking or disliking.
Example: Teaching young children needs a lot of patience.
| Synonyms (Aversion) | Antonyms (Aversion) |
|---|---|
| dislike | liking |
| antipathy | fondness |
| distaste | affinity |
| repugnance | attraction |
The following words have also been asked in other CUET (UG) English papers:
| Word | 2026 | 2025 | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| aversion | 15-05 S1 23-05 S2 | – | – | – | 10-08 S1 |