Select the word most opposite in meaning to the underlined word 'clandestine': The group held some clandestine meetings to resolve the matter.
- (a)secret
- (b)covert
- (c)sneaky
- (d)public
Answer
D
Why
Correct — D, public. 'Clandestine' means done secretly and kept hidden, so its opposite is 'public' — open and known to all. The other three options are all near-synonyms of secret, so only 'public' reverses the meaning.
Why the others are wrong
- (a)secret — Secret is a direct synonym of clandestine, so it is the meaning we need the opposite of, not the opposite.
- (b)covert — Covert means concealed or hidden — again a synonym of clandestine rather than its antonym.
- (c)sneaky — Sneaky means done in a secretive, underhand way, which matches clandestine instead of opposing it.
Concept
An antonym item — 'clandestine' means secret or hidden, so its opposite is 'public' (open).
Related PYQs
No directly related past PYQ was found.
Practice
- practice — not a real PYQ
Select the word most opposite in meaning to 'covert'.
- (a)hidden
- (b)open
- (c)secret
- (d)veiled
Answer(b) open — covert means concealed; open is its opposite.
- practice — not a real PYQ
Select the word most opposite in meaning to 'furtive'.
- (a)sly
- (b)stealthy
- (c)overt
- (d)secretive
Answer(c) overt — furtive means done secretly; overt means done openly.