Introduction / Context:
Describing buildings, "dilapidated" means in disrepair, run-down, or decayed due to age or neglect. A good antonym should describe a structure restored to good condition. This question checks your ability to focus on the condition-of-building axis rather than getting distracted by related but not opposite descriptors (e.g., "furnished").
Given Data / Assumptions:
- Target word: dilapidated (structural decay/poor condition).
- Domain: building condition.
- Need: exact opposite that signals repair/restoration.
Concept / Approach:
The natural antonym of dilapidated is "renovated" or "restored," both indicating substantial repairs bringing the structure back to sound condition. "Regenerated" can be contextually close in urban planning but is broader; "furnished" only concerns interior furniture, not structural condition; "neglected" and "ruined" are near-synonyms of dilapidated.
Step-by-Step Solution:
1) Define the condition axis: broken/run-down ↔ repaired/restored.2) Identify "renovated" as the term that directly signals repair.3) Eliminate "furnished" (interior decor only) and "regenerated" (too broad or process-oriented).4) Discard "neglected" and "ruined" as same-polarity terms.
Verification / Alternative check:
Paraphrase: "…in a renovated palace" is the obvious opposite scenario of "dilapidated palace," confirming the selection.
Why Other Options Are Wrong:
neglected: Contributes to dilapidation; not opposite.regenerated: Urban-development sense; not a precise antonym here.furnished: About furniture; condition may still be poor.ruined: Stronger synonym of dilapidated.
Common Pitfalls:
Choosing "furnished" because it sounds positive. Furnishing a decayed building does not fix its structural problems; renovation does.
Final Answer:
renovated
Discussion & Comments