Question

Of these four words, which one is most likely to have a negative flavor or implication? A. Distract B. Meander C. Confuse D. Harangue

Answer 1

D is the correct answer. Of these, harrangue is the most negative, as it implies a continual lecturing of someone or speaking to them for an excessively long amount of time. While distract and confuse can be negative, they have less negative connotations.

Answer 2

The correct answer is D. harangue.

Although all of these words mean similar things, they do not have the same connotation. Distract, meander, and confuse are all neutral words - there is nothing especially positive or negative about them. However, when it comes to harangue, it is really negative - it means to lecture someone aggressively, to almost bully them.