Select the most appropriate synonym of the given word. Grotesque

Correct — C. Grotesque describes something distorted, misshapen and unpleasant to look at — a gargoyle, a twisted mask, a caricature.

The core of the word is therefore repellent appearance, and the option that carries that core is Ugly → option (c).

The others move the sense elsewhere: one judges conduct, one describes how an action arises, and one is the opposite of the given word.

Why the others are wrong

• (a)
  Shameful — Shameful means deserving of disgrace. It is a moral judgement on behaviour, whereas grotesque describes how something looks.
• (b)
  Comely — Comely means pleasing to look at, attractive. It is the antonym trap: the right field of meaning, the wrong end of it.
• (d)
  Spontaneous — Spontaneous means done on impulse, without planning. It describes how an act comes about and says nothing about appearance.

A synonym item wants the option nearest the core sense of the given word, not a perfect equivalent.

Grotesque reached English from Italian, where grottesca named a style of fanciful, distorted ornament. The idea of strange distortion is still in the word, and ugliness is what that distortion produces.

Work such items by fixing the part of speech, then the polarity. All four options here are adjectives, so polarity does the work — and Comely is planted at the opposite pole.

Key facts

• Grotesque means ugly or distorted in a strange, unnatural way.
• Comely means attractive or good-looking, so it stands opposite grotesque.
• Shameful judges conduct or a situation, not appearance.

Common traps

• Choosing Shameful because grotesque feels like a strong negative word.
• Not knowing Comely and guessing it is a near-synonym of grotesque.
• Reading grotesque as only meaning absurd, and rejecting Ugly as too plain.

No directly related past PYQ was found.