Question

OBFUSCATE nearly means:
• [(a)] Illuminate
• [(b)] Confound
• [(c)] Explicate
• [(d)] Muddle

• (a) and (b) are correct
• (b) and (c) are correct
• (b) and (d) are correct
• (a) and (c) are correct

Hint:

To solve synonym questions quickly, first identify whether the target word carries a positive, negative, or neutral meaning. Then eliminate options with the opposite tone before making the final selection.

Answer 1

The Correct Option is C

Step 1: Analyze word (a) -- Illuminate. The word Illuminate means:
• To shed light on
• To clarify
• To make something easier to understand Example: “The teacher's explanation illuminated the difficult concept.” Since illuminate means to make something clear, it is opposite in meaning to obfuscate. Therefore, (a) is incorrect.

Step 2: Analyze word (b) -- Confound. The word Confound means:
• To confuse
• To bewilder
• To make difficult to understand Example: “The complicated instructions confounded the participants.” This meaning closely matches the meaning of obfuscate. Therefore, (b) is correct.

Step 3: Analyze word (c) -- Explicate. The word Explicate means:
• To explain
• To interpret
• To clarify in detail Example: “The professor explicated the theory thoroughly.” Since explicate means to make something clear, it is opposite in meaning to obfuscate. Therefore, (c) is incorrect.

Step 4: Analyze word (d) -- Muddle. The word Muddle means:
• To confuse
• To mix up
• To make unclear Example: “The contradictory statements muddled the issue.” This meaning is very close to the meaning of obfuscate. Therefore, (d) is correct.

Step 5: Determine the correct combination. We found that: \[ (b)\ \text{Confound} \] and \[ (d)\ \text{Muddle} \] are the words that closely match the meaning of obfuscate. Therefore, \[ (b) \text{ and } (d) \] form the correct combination. Hence, the correct answer is Option (C).