Select the word that is an ANTONYM of 'assassination' in the passage.

Appeared in: DSSSB 13 August 2024

Explanation

The word 'assassination' means to murder someone, which is an act of causing extreme harm.
An antonym is a word with the opposite meaning.
The word 'protect' means to keep someone safe from harm or injury.
Therefore, 'protect' is the direct antonym of 'assassination' as it signifies preventing harm, whereas assassination is the act of inflicting it.

Option A: An 'attack' is an aggressive act intended to cause harm. This is a similar concept to assassination, not its opposite. An assassination is a specific and severe form of attack.
Option B: To 'threaten' is to communicate an intent to harm. This action often precedes an attack or assassination and is part of the same hostile process, not its opposite.
Option C: 'Harm' is the damage or injury that results from an assassination. It is the intended outcome, making it a component of the act, not its opposite.

Clinical Relevance

Nursing practice connection: This is primarily an exam-oriented knowledge point with limited direct bedside application, so retain English Vocabulary: Antonyms as background academic context rather than a clinical decision trigger.
While this is a general English question, a strong command of vocabulary, including understanding opposites (antonyms), is crucial for clear and precise communication in healthcare.
Nurses must accurately interpret and use language to document patient status, communicate with the healthcare team, and educate patients and families. Misunderstanding a word's meaning can lead to errors.
What if the question asked for a synonym? In that case, 'Attack' would be the closest answer, as an assassination is a form of attack.

How to Approach the Question

First, identify the core meaning of the target word, 'assassination', which is to kill or cause fatal harm.
Next, understand the instruction, which is to find the 'antonym' or the word with the opposite meaning.
Evaluate each option: 'Attack', 'Threaten', and 'Harm' are all related to the concept of causing injury and are therefore similar in meaning (synonymous) or related concepts.
Identify 'Protect' as the only option that means to prevent harm, making it the direct opposite of 'assassination'.

Concept Tested & Keywords

Q5Uu-iI1-2ncX6FEgIFEBW

Practise the full DSSSB 13 August 2024

Attempt every question from this paper in a timed mock, then review the full solution for each one.