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Re: The remark was intended as something of a __________, even
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08 Oct 2017, 17:57
Explanation
The words even if signal a change in the meaning of the sentence, so you need a word for the blank that is the opposite of anodyne, which can mean “alleviating pain,” but here means “not likely to provoke offense.”
Compliment and panegyric both have positive connotations, so they can’t work here. Only slight and gibe have the required negativity.
Hence options slight, gibe are correct!