IPMAT Indore 2026 · Verbal Ability · Question 26

IPMAT Indore 2026 previous year question on Commonly Confused Words, with the answer and a step-by-step solution.

Commonly Confused WordsVocabularyMultiple choiceMedium

In the following sentence, the incorrect part is shown in bold. Choose an alternative from the four given options so that the sentence is rendered correct.

The judge has disposed himself from the case because of his prior association with the company.

  1. A

    recanted

  2. B

    refrained

  3. C

    recused

  4. D

    recouped

Pick an option, then check.
Answer & solution

Answer: Option C

What the sentence needs. A judge who steps aside from a case because of a conflict of interest has recused himself. It is the precise legal term.

The word set:

Word

Meaning

recuse

to withdraw oneself from a case due to a conflict of interest ✓

recant

to formally withdraw a previously held belief or statement

refrain

to hold back from doing something

recoup

to recover a loss, usually financial

Why the others fail. Refrain is the plausible trap, but you refrain from doing something, and it is not reflexive — “refrained himself” is ungrammatical. Recant concerns statements, recoup concerns money.

Answer: Option 3 — recused

Shortcut. Two clues point the same way: the legal context (judge, case, prior association) and the reflexive structure “___ himself”. Recuse is the only option that is both legal and naturally reflexive.

More Commonly Confused Words questions

All Commonly Confused Words PYQs →

Take this paper as a timed test
Real exam timing, instant score, rank and topic-wise analysis.

Practice timed →