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This bilingual Synonyms question tests whether the learner can identify Lessen as the closest contextual equivalent of Diminish. It develops meaning-based selection rather than superficial familiarity by comparing one accurate synonym with three plausible distractors. The verified lexical pair is Diminish and Lessen.
The word Diminish and the word Lessen share the same central sense in the context tested by the question, although usage, tone and grammatical form should still be checked before substituting one for the other. A synonym is not required to be identical in every possible sentence; it must preserve the intended meaning in the relevant context. Here, replacing Diminish with Lessen keeps the core idea intact without reversing the tone or changing the action, quality or state expressed by the target word. The alternatives Persuade, Ease and Precise do not express the same central meaning as Diminish. This distinction matters because competitive examinations often place one accurate synonym beside three familiar but contextually unsuitable words. If the sentence retains its essential meaning and grammatical structure, the synonym relationship is supported. Learners should revise Diminish together with Lessen, a brief usage cue and the contrasting distractors. This method develops contextual vocabulary, precise option elimination and dependable recall for SSC, Banking, Railway, Defence and other competitive examinations.
FAQ
Common questions and clear answers for this topic.
Lessen is the closest synonym in this question.
It preserves the central contextual meaning and grammatical role tested in the item.
No. Tone, collocation and context can limit substitution even when central meanings are close.
Learn the pair Diminish — Lessen with a short example sentence and contrast it with the distractors.
Synonyms are words that have the same or similar meanings. For example: Happy and Joyful are synonyms. Synonym questions are asked in English sections of SSC CGL, IBPS Bank PO, SBI PO, Railway NTPC, UPSC CSAT, and all state government exams. These questions test vocabulary. Format: A word is given and candidates choose the word with the most similar meaning from four options.
Commonly asked Synonyms in SSC and Banking exams: Abate - Reduce, Belligerent - Aggressive, Candid - Frank/Honest, Dexterous - Skillful, Eminent - Distinguished/Notable, Fervent - Passionate, Garrulous - Talkative, Haughty - Arrogant, Impede - Obstruct/Hinder, Jovial - Cheerful/Merry, Kindle - Ignite/Arouse, Languid - Listless/Sluggish. Learning 10-15 new synonyms daily is highly recommended.
