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ASVAB · Synonym Recognition

DEVIATE most nearly means:

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Correct answer

To turn aside or stray from a path

  1. A To speed up
  2. B To repeat
  3. C To turn aside or stray from a path
  4. D To stay the course

Why this is the answer

DEVIATE means to depart from an established course, standard, or norm; to turn aside or stray. Example: 'The pilot did not deviate from the assigned route.' The opposite would be to stay on course, offered as a distractor. The related noun is DEVIATION. The prefix DE- (away/from) plus the root 'via' (way/road) literally suggests moving away from the road. Recognizing the word parts — 'away from the way' — points directly to the meaning. DEVIATE is used for both physical paths and figurative departures from a plan or rule.
Source: ASVAB Word Knowledge — Synonyms

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About this topic: Synonym Recognition

Word Knowledge is mostly synonym questions: a word, sometimes in a short sentence, and four choices. Eliminate the words you know are wrong, use roots and prefixes on the rest, and never leave a blank — there is no penalty for guessing. This is one of 39 Word Knowledge questions on synonym recognition, each with a full explanation on a single study page.

New to this exam? Our ASVAB exam guide explains the format, scoring, and how to prepare.

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