17. The underlined words in the following sentences share the same denotation: “angry.” Which underlined word has the least negative connotation? Base your answer on context as well as your knowledge of the word.

Question

a.
Passengers were displeased that they had to wait a few extra minutes to board the plane.
b.
The basketball coach was infuriated because the referee made three unfair calls during the playoff game.
c.
Jim’s coworkers were irritated when he forgot to put his dirty dishes in the sink.
d.
When Sara saw the long line at the ticket window, she was exasperated that she had not arrived earlier.

Answer 1

The underlined word with the least negative connotation is "displeased" from sentence (a).

Here's the reasoning:

• Displeased implies a mild level of dissatisfaction or annoyance, which generally carries a less intense and negative emotional weight.
• Infuriated (b) conveys extreme anger and strong negative feelings.
• Irritated (c) suggests a moderate level of annoyance, but it is still more negative than "displeased."
• Exasperated (d) indicates a sense of frustration that includes a level of anger but also a feeling of being overwhelmed.

In contrast, "displeased" suggests a simple disappointment without the strong emotional charge present in the other words.