Select the most appropriate antonym of the given word. Incandescent

Correct — A.
Incandescent means glowing with light, especially light given off by something heated, like the filament of an old-style bulb.

Dusky means dim or darkish, the light of dusk. It is the one option on the dark side, so it is the antonym.

Why the others are wrong

• (b)
  Resplendent — Resplendent means dazzling or splendid in appearance. It sits on the bright side with incandescent, so it is a synonym, not an opposite.
• (c)
  Glistening — Glistening means shining with a sparkling light, as wet surfaces do. It describes brightness, the same side as incandescent.
• (d)
  Fulgent — Fulgent is a literary word for shining brightly, from Latin fulgere, 'to shine'. It is the rarest option, but a synonym.

The options split into two camps: three words for brightness and one for dimness. Once you know incandescent is about light, the antonym must come from the dim camp.

Incandescent comes from Latin candere, 'to be white, to glow', the root of candle and candid. Figuratively, someone 'incandescent with rage' is burning with fury.

Key facts

• Incandescent: glowing because of heat, and figuratively brilliant or furious.
• Dusky: dim or darkish, as at dusk.
• Fulgent and refulgent both come from Latin fulgere, 'to shine', and both mean shining brightly.
• Incandescent shares its Latin root candere, 'to glow white', with candle and candid.

Common traps

• Picking fulgent because it is the least familiar word and feels like the odd one out — it is a synonym.
• Reading incandescent only in its anger sense and hunting for a calm word — every option here is about light.

No directly related past PYQ was found.