Question:
Instructions: Each of the following items is followed by four words or group of words. Fill in the blank with the appropriate word or group of words.
His remarks were filled with ____, which sounded lofty but presented nothing new to the audience.
Instructions: Each of the following items is followed by four words or group of words. Fill in the blank with the appropriate word or group of words.
His remarks were filled with ____, which sounded lofty but presented nothing new to the audience.
Show Hint
Look for a word meaning a trite, overused remark that sounds wise but says nothing new.
Updated On: Jul 16, 2026
- aphorisms
- platitudes
- bombast
- adages
Show Solution
Verified By Collegedunia
The Correct Option is B
Solution and Explanation
This question checks whether you can tell apart four words that all relate to sayings or lofty speech, based on small differences in meaning and tone.
- Aphorisms: short, pithy statements that express a general truth in an original and memorable way. The sentence describes remarks that presented nothing new, and aphorisms are valued precisely for their originality, so this word does not fit.
- Platitudes: remarks or statements, often on serious or moral themes, that sound profound but are actually trite and overused, adding nothing fresh to the discussion. This matches exactly what is being described here, remarks that sounded lofty but said nothing new.
- Bombast: high sounding language with little real content behind it. This is close in spirit, but bombast criticizes the style of language itself rather than the staleness of the ideas, making it a weaker fit than platitudes.
- Adages: traditional sayings that express a general truth from common experience, similar to proverbs. Like aphorisms, adages carry a positive sense of genuine wisdom, so they cannot describe remarks being criticized as empty.
The word that best captures remarks sounding impressive while adding nothing new is platitudes, so option B is correct.
Let's summarize:
- Platitudes are trite, overused remarks that sound wise but are actually stale.
- Aphorisms and adages both have positive connotations of real wisdom, ruling them out here.
- Bombast is about inflated style, not necessarily the lack of new content.
When choosing between near synonyms, always match the positive or negative connotation of the blank word to the tone of the surrounding sentence.
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