Antonym

Question

BAIT:  A. perplexB. disarmC. deludeD. releaseE. fortify(Choose the word among the five choices that is most nearly opposite in meaning to the word in capital letter.)I was totally caught up with this one. I have no clue at all what "bait" is supposed to mean in this question. Thank you.

Davkett · Accepted Answer

None of the five choices seem to me like good antonyms. Bait attracts and interests. 'Perplex' (to confuse, to puzzle) seems to come the closest.
BAIT

n.

1.

a. Food or other lure placed on a hook or in a trap and used in the taking of fish, birds, or other animals.

b. Something, such as a worm, used for this purpose.

2. An enticement; a temptation.

3. Archaic A stop for food or rest during a trip.

v. bait·ed, bait·ing, baits

v.tr.

1. To place a lure in (a trap) or on (a fishing hook).

2. To entice, especially by trickery or strategy.

3. To set dogs upon (a chained animal, for example) for sport.

4. To attack or torment, especially with persistent insults, criticism, or ridicule.

5. To tease.

6. To feed (an animal), especially on a journey.

v.intr. Archaic

To stop for food or rest during a trip.

Jeff_999 · Answer

Waht about "disarm"?

"Bait" means to irritate, while "disarm" means to calm one's anger.

Clive · Answer

Hi,

Although it has more sophisticated meanings, 'to bait' is to try to entice or trap. So, I'd choose 'release'.

Clive

Maverick88 · Answer

What about bait in the meaning of 'to attack, torment....' against 'fortify'?

MrPedantic · Answer

A. perplex
B. disarm
C. delude
D. release
E. fortify

I bait you when I deliberately set out to annoy you. If I'm successful, you'll look at me in a negative light.

1. When I perplex you (intentionally or not), you may be annoyed. Not A.

2. When I disarm you, I set out to make you look on me (or my recommendation) in a positive light. Possibly B.

3. When I delude you, you will be annoyed if you find out. Not C.

4. When I release you, you will be pleased. But 'release' suggests prior physical restraint, whereas 'bait' is psychological. Not D.

5. When I fortify you, I build up your confidence with encouraging words. Not E.

So I would say B. It's not an entirely perfect antonym, though: baiting can describe the deliberately annoying action itself, whereas disarming is the consequence of the deliberately pleasing action.

MrP

Davkett · Answer

MrP, --I can imagine someone who has been disarmed being extremely annoyed. Does the world today not have plenty of bigtime examples of this?

The answer must be C, because we've given evey answer but C. How's that for resolving the thread?

But I'm going to finally go with D: entrapment / release

MrPedantic · Answer

Yes...though I'm thinking of 'disarm' in its sense of 'depriving of reason or disposition to be hostile'. It seems a psychological context...

MrP

Jeff_999 · Answer

<img class='emoticon' style='Width:19px;Height:19px;' data-delaysrc='https://uat-englishforward-forums-backend.s3.us-west-2.amazonaws.com/Emoticons/1.gif' src='https://uat-englishforward-forums-backend.s3.us-west-2.amazonaws.com/Emoticons/1.gif' alt='Emotion: smile'/>  I would go for B too.

Davkett · Answer

Jeff,

How will we find out the 'correct' answer?

Jeff_999 · Answer

This kind of question requires us to find out a choice most nearly opposite in meaning to the given word, so I guess B fits it best. But I don't know. I don't know what ETS test developers try to expect from our takers.

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