Frugal is related to Parsimonious in the same way that which pair of words shows a similar synonym relationship?

Introduction / Context:
This analogy tests your understanding of synonym relationships. Frugal and parsimonious both describe someone who is very careful with money and resources. Your task is to identify which of the given pairs also represents a strong similarity of meaning rather than opposition or weak association. Analogy questions like this often require fine distinctions between near synonyms and antonyms.

Given Data / Assumptions:

• First pair: Frugal : Parsimonious.
• Second pair to select: one of joy : ecstasy, rich : poor, love : hate, poor : misery.
• Frugal means economical or sparing in the use of resources.
• Parsimonious means extremely unwilling to spend money; very frugal or stingy.
• The relationship is primarily one of similarity in meaning.

Concept / Approach:
Frugal and parsimonious are near synonyms related to a cautious attitude toward spending. The second pair must also consist of words that are very close in meaning, not opposites. Among the options, joy and ecstasy both denote strong positive feelings of happiness, with ecstasy being an intensified form of joy. The other pairs represent opposites or loosely related concepts and do not parallel the synonym pattern.

Step-by-Step Solution:
Step 1: Confirm the first pair. Frugal describes someone who spends money very carefully. Parsimonious describes someone who is even more extremely careful, sometimes to the point of stinginess. The two words share the same basic idea of careful spending. Step 2: Identify the relationship type as synonym or near synonym, not antonym. Step 3: Examine the pair joy : ecstasy. Joy is a feeling of great pleasure and happiness, while ecstasy is an even more intense feeling of overwhelming joy or delight. Step 4: Compare with rich : poor. These words are clear opposites, describing opposite ends of a wealth spectrum. Step 5: Consider love : hate. This pair is also an antonym pair, expressing opposite emotions. Step 6: Evaluate poor : misery. Poor describes lack of wealth, whereas misery is a condition of extreme unhappiness; they are related but not close synonyms in the same direct way as joy and ecstasy.

Verification / Alternative check:
We can rewrite the analogy as: Frugal (careful with money) : Parsimonious (very careful with money) :: Joy (strong happiness) : Ecstasy (extreme joy). In both pairs, the second word represents an intensified or more extreme version of the quality expressed by the first word. The relationship is therefore parallel, confirming joy and ecstasy as the correct matching pair.

Why Other Options Are Wrong:
rich : poor: An antonym pair rather than a synonym pair, so it does not mirror frugal and parsimonious. love : hate: Another clear antonym pair, again not matching the pattern of similar meanings. poor : misery: These words are related in that poverty can lead to misery, but they are not direct synonyms and do not show a neat similarity pattern.

Common Pitfalls:
Some learners may be tempted by poor and misery because both sound negative, but analogy questions require the precise type of relationship. Simply being related in context is not enough; the similarity or opposition must be as strong as the example pair. Always check whether the pair mirrors synonymy or antonymy exactly, rather than just sharing a general mood or field.

Final Answer:
The pair that stands to each other as frugal stands to parsimonious is joy : ecstasy.