Question

Among the following options, the antonym of the word 'nocturnal' is _________.

• A. normal
• B. diurnal
• C. abnormal
• D. exceptional

Hint:

Look for a word that names daytime activity, since "nocturnal" names nighttime activity.

Answer 1

The Correct Option is B

The word "nocturnal" describes an animal or activity that is active during the night. To find its antonym, we need a word that means active during the day, not simply a word built from a prefix like "non-" or "un-".

1. normal: This word means usual or typical. It says nothing about day or night, so it does not describe the opposite of "nocturnal".
2. diurnal: This word means active during the day. It is the direct opposite of "nocturnal", which is why animals such as most birds are called diurnal while owls are called nocturnal.
3. abnormal: This word means not normal or unusual. It has no connection to the timing of activity, so it cannot be the antonym here.
4. exceptional: This word means unusually good or rare. Again, it does not relate to day or night activity.

The correct antonym is "diurnal", since it directly names daytime activity as opposed to nighttime activity described by "nocturnal".

Let's summarize:

• "Nocturnal" means active at night.
• "Diurnal" means active during the day, making it the true antonym.
• The other three options describe unrelated ideas such as usualness or rarity, not a time of activity.

So the word that correctly completes the blank as the antonym of "nocturnal" is "diurnal".