DEFACE
DECORATE
The meanings of these words are
A similar
B contradictory
C neither similar nor contradictory
The correct answer and explanation is:
The correct answer is B: contradictory.
“Deface” and “decorate” are opposite in meaning. To deface something means to ruin, spoil, or damage its appearance, typically by vandalizing or altering it in a negative way. For example, if someone were to spray paint over a beautiful painting, they would be defacing it.
On the other hand, to decorate means to add aesthetic elements to something, improving its appearance or making it more beautiful. Decorating can involve anything from adding artwork to a room to dressing up a cake with icing and flowers. The intent behind decoration is to enhance, to make something more visually appealing.
The key difference between the two words is their impact on the object in question. Defacing involves harm and degradation, while decorating involves care and enhancement. For this reason, the meanings of “deface” and “decorate” are directly contradictory, not just unrelated or similar.
Understanding the distinction between these two words highlights how the same action — altering something’s appearance — can either be destructive or constructive, depending on the word used. This contrast emphasizes the importance of word choice in communication, as the connotation of each term carries its own implications regarding how something is changed or treated.