Select the option that is opposite in meaning to the underlined word: She has always been disdainful of poor people.

Correct — A, reverential. 'Disdainful' means showing contempt or scorn — looking down on someone; its opposite is 'reverential' — showing deep respect. 'Derisive' (mocking), 'supercilious' (haughtily superior) and 'insolent' (rudely disrespectful) are all synonyms of disdainful, so the single respectful word, 'reverential', is the antonym.

Why the others are wrong

• (b)
  derisive — 'Derisive' means expressing contempt or ridicule — a synonym of disdainful, not its opposite.
• (c)
  supercilious — 'Supercilious' means behaving as though superior to others — haughtily disdainful, again a synonym.
• (d)
  insolent — 'Insolent' means rude and disrespectful; it shares the scornful sense of disdainful rather than opposing it.

Antonym item: 'disdainful' (scornful, contemptuous) versus 'reverential' (deeply respectful); three distractors cluster around scorn, so the respectful option stands out.

No directly related past PYQ was found.

• practice — not a real PYQ

  Select the antonym of 'contemptuous'.

  • (a)scornful
  • (b)respectful
  • (c)sneering
  • (d)mocking
  Answer(b) respectful — 'contemptuous' means showing scorn; 'respectful' is its opposite.
• practice — not a real PYQ

  Choose the word opposite in meaning to 'haughty'.

  • (a)arrogant
  • (b)proud
  • (c)humble
  • (d)snobbish
  Answer(c) humble — 'haughty' means arrogantly superior; 'humble' is its opposite.