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Question

Difficulty: MediumAntonyms and Words Opposite in Meaning

In the sentence below, one word is emphasized in bold. Read the sentence carefully and answer the question that follows:

Despite the gloomy economic forecast presented at the annual general meeting, the chief executive officer remained surprisingly ebullient throughout his address to the shareholders.

Which of the following words is most nearly opposite in meaning to the word ebullient as used in the sentence?

  1. despondentAnswer
  2. B
    exuberant
  3. C
    tranquil
  4. D
    bellicose

Answer

The word most nearly opposite in meaning to 'ebullient' is 'despondent'.
In the given context, 'ebullient' describes someone who is overflowing with fervor, enthusiasm, and cheerfulness. The word 'despondent' refers to being disheartened, dejected, and gloomy, which provides the exact opposite meaning to 'ebullient'.

Step-by-Step Solution

1
Analyze the context of the target word in the sentence.
The word 'ebullient' describes the chief executive officer's high-spirited, cheerful, and enthusiastic mood despite a gloomy forecast.
Understanding the contextual meaning of the target word is necessary before searching for its antonym.
2
Determine the exact antonym required for this context.
The opposite of high-spirited enthusiasm and cheerfulness is feeling dejected, gloomy, or discouraged.
The question explicitly requires the word most nearly opposite in meaning.
3
Evaluate the option choices against the identified opposite meaning.
'Despondent' precisely means dejected and low-spirited, making it the direct opposite of 'ebullient'.
'Exuberant' is a synonym, 'tranquil' merely indicates calmness, and 'bellicose' relates to aggressiveness.

Key Concept

Identifying contextual antonyms in high-level English prose
Estimated Time:1m 0s
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Topics

Antonyms and Words Opposite in Meaning

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