Question

Exacerbate : Mitigate :: __________
Choose the option with the correct pair of words to fill the blank.

• A. Aggravate : Alleviate
• B. Alleviate : Precipitate
• C. Aggravate : Precipitate
• D. Emancipate : Exonerate

Hint:

Work out what relationship "worsen" and "lessen" describes, then look for the option where both words carry that same sense.

Answer 1

The Correct Option is A

This question tests word pairs that share the same relationship as the given pair. "Exacerbate" means to make a problem or situation worse, and "Mitigate" means to make a problem or situation less severe. So the first word in the blank must mean "to worsen" and the second word must mean "to lessen", the same worsen-to-lessen link seen in the stem pair.

1. Aggravate : Alleviate: "Aggravate" means to make a situation worse, the same sense as "exacerbate". "Alleviate" means to make suffering or a problem less severe, the same sense as "mitigate". This pair carries the exact worsen-to-lessen relationship of the stem.
2. Alleviate : Precipitate: "Alleviate" means to lessen, so it already breaks the pattern in the first slot, since the first word of the stem pair means to worsen, not to lessen. "Precipitate" means to bring on an event suddenly, which has nothing to do with severity either.
3. Aggravate : Precipitate: "Aggravate" fits the worsen sense correctly, but "Precipitate" means to trigger an event suddenly, not to lessen a problem. The second word does not carry the "mitigate" sense, so the pair breaks the relationship.
4. Emancipate : Exonerate: "Emancipate" means to free from restriction, and "Exonerate" means to clear from blame. Both words describe freeing someone from a negative state, so this is a synonym pair, not a worsen-to-lessen antonym pair like the stem.

Only option (A) keeps both halves of the relationship intact: the first word means "to worsen" and the second word means "to lessen", matching "Exacerbate : Mitigate" exactly.

Let's summarize:

• Exacerbate and Mitigate form a worsen-to-lessen antonym pair.
• Aggravate and Alleviate form the same worsen-to-lessen antonym pair, so it is the correct match.
• The other three options each break the relationship in at least one half of the pair.

So the correct pair is Aggravate : Alleviate, option (A).