In the following word analogy, Honest is related to Truthful as a pair of synonyms. Using the same idea, which word should complete the analogy Honest : Truthful :: Obdurate : ?

Introduction / Context:
This analogy is testing your vocabulary and understanding of synonyms. Honest and Truthful have very similar meanings, so the relationship is clearly that of synonym to synonym. The word Obdurate also has close synonyms, and you must choose the option that best captures its meaning. Knowing common synonyms and antonyms is very helpful for solving such verbal reasoning problems quickly and correctly.

Given Data / Assumptions:
First pair: Honest : Truthful. Second pair: Obdurate : ?. Honest and Truthful are used in their everyday sense of being sincere and not deceptive. Obdurate is taken in its usual sense from English vocabulary questions, meaning stubborn or unyielding.

Concept / Approach:
In the first pair, Honest and Truthful mean almost the same thing. Someone who is honest speaks the truth, and someone who is truthful is honest. Therefore, the connection between these two words is a synonym relationship. To preserve the analogy, we must find a word among the options that has a meaning very similar to Obdurate. Consulting common usage, Obdurate describes a person who is stubborn, firm in their opinions, and not easily persuaded to change. The closest synonym in the options must match that idea.

Step-by-Step Solution:
Step 1: Restate the first pair's relationship. Honest and Truthful are synonyms; both describe a person who tells the truth and does not lie. Step 2: Clarify the meaning of Obdurate. Obdurate refers to someone who is very stubborn, hard to convince, and determined not to change their attitude or opinion. Step 3: Examine each option. Adamant describes someone who is firm, unshakable, and unwilling to change a decision or belief. Soft suggests a gentle or mild personality and often indicates the opposite of being stubborn. Yielding means ready to give way or agree to others, again the opposite of stubborn. Submissive refers to someone who tends to obey, comply, or allow others to control them, the opposite of being firm and unyielding. Step 4: Choose the closest synonym. Adamant clearly matches the stubborn and unyielding sense of Obdurate.

Verification / Alternative check:
We can check the analogy by rewriting it. Honest is to Truthful as Obdurate is to Adamant. Both pairs now read as synonym pairs. If we try to insert Soft or Yielding, the relationship collapses into antonym pairs, because Obdurate people are not soft or yielding. Submissive is also an antonym like that. The only option that makes both pairs synonym to synonym is Adamant, so the analogy is preserved only with this choice.

Why Other Options Are Wrong:
Soft implies a tendency to bend or be easily influenced, which conflicts directly with the hardness implied by Obdurate. Yielding means ready to give in, the opposite of someone who stubbornly refuses to change. Submissive describes a person who accepts authority or control, not someone who stands firm against persuasion. Gentle indicates kindness or mildness, which again does not capture the sense of stubborn resistance contained in Obdurate.

Common Pitfalls:
Some students may confuse a difficult or rare word like Obdurate with something negative in general and then pick any negative sounding option, rather than focusing on the exact meaning. Others may think of Adamant only in its informal sense and overlook that it is widely used as a synonym for stubborn and unyielding. Building a strong vocabulary by regularly reviewing synonym lists and example sentences is the best way to handle this type of question accurately.

Final Answer:
The word that correctly completes the analogy is Adamant.