Select the most appropriate antonym of the given word. Refulgent

Correct — A. Refulgent means shining very brightly, radiant.

Its opposite is a lack of light. Dull means lacking brightness or shine, as in a dull, overcast sky. That is the antonym → option (a).

The root confirms it. Refulgent comes from Latin refulgere, to shine out, from fulgere, to shine.

Why the others are wrong

• (b)
  Radiant — Radiant means sending out light, shining or glowing brightly. It is a synonym of refulgent, not an antonym, so it answers the reverse question.
• (c)
  Gleaming — Gleaming means shining brightly, often with reflected light, like polished metal. It stands on the same side as refulgent, so it cannot be its opposite.
• (d)
  Luminous — Luminous means giving off light, bright or shining, especially in the dark. It is another synonym of refulgent, the wrong side for an antonym.

An antonym item wants the word at the opposite pole of the given word's sense. Refulgent sits at the bright extreme: shining out, dazzling.

Here Radiant, Gleaming and Luminous are all synonyms of refulgent. They catch a candidate who knows the word is about light but forgets the instruction.

Dull is the lone option on the dark side, so it is the antonym.

Key facts

• Refulgent means shining very brightly.
• It comes from Latin refulgere, to shine out, from fulgere, to shine.
• Effulgent, from Latin effulgere, also means shining brightly.
• Dull, in the sense lacking brightness, is its antonym.

Common traps

• Picking Radiant, Gleaming or Luminous by losing the instruction: all three are synonyms of refulgent
• Setting Dull aside because its everyday sense is boring, when the antonym needs only its lacking-brightness sense

No directly related past PYQ was found.