Question

Choose the option that is most opposite in meaning (antonym) to the word given below.
JOCUND

• A. Brash
• B. Jocular
• C. Square
• D. Melancholic

Hint:

Watch out for "Jocular," it sounds similar to jocund and means almost the same thing; the true opposite is a word for sadness.

Answer 1

The Correct Option is D

"Jocund" means cheerful, merry, and lighthearted. This question asks for the word most opposite to that meaning, not a word close to it.

1. Brash: This means bold and overconfident in a rude or hasty way. It describes a personality trait unrelated to mood, so it is not a true opposite of cheerfulness.
2. Jocular: This means fond of joking, playful, and humorous, which is actually very close in meaning to jocund, making it the opposite of what this question is looking for.
3. Square: This is an informal term for someone old fashioned or conventional. It does not describe an emotional state, so it fails to oppose jocund's cheerfulness.
4. Melancholic: This means sad, gloomy, and given to low spirits, which is the direct emotional opposite of being cheerful and merry.

Since jocund describes a cheerful mood, its true opposite must describe a sad one, which is "Melancholic."

Let's summarize:

• Jocund means cheerful or merry.
• Jocular is a trap since it means almost the same thing as jocund, not its opposite.
• Melancholic means sad and gloomy, the real opposite of jocund.

So the correct answer is "Melancholic."