Select the most appropriate antonym of the given word. Vociferous

Correct — C. Vociferous means loud and forceful, especially in voicing an opinion: a vociferous critic makes sure everyone hears.

Its opposite is making no sound at all. Silent means not speaking or making any noise, so it is the antonym → option (c).

The root confirms the sense: vociferous comes from Latin vōcifer, voice-bearing, from vox, voice.

Why the others are wrong

• (a)
  Noisy — Noisy means making a lot of noise. A vociferous crowd is a noisy one, so this is a synonym and answers the reverse question.
• (b)
  Loud — Loud means producing much sound. Vociferous protest is loud protest, so Loud stands on the same side as the given word, not opposite it.
• (d)
  Boisterous — Boisterous means noisy, energetic and rowdy, as in a boisterous party. It shares the noise of vociferous, so it cannot be its opposite.

An antonym item wants the word at the opposite pole of the given word's sense. Vociferous sits at the loud extreme: a voice raised and insistent.

Here Noisy, Loud and Boisterous are all on the loud side. They catch a candidate who knows the word is about noise but forgets the instruction.

Silent is the lone option on the quiet side, so it is the antonym.

Key facts

• Vociferous means loud and forceful, especially when expressing an opinion.
• It comes from Latin vōcifer, voice-bearing, from vox, voice.
• Clamorous is a close synonym of vociferous.

Common traps

• Losing the antonym instruction and picking Noisy or Loud, which are synonyms
• Picking Boisterous because it looks less like the other noise words, when it also means noisy

No directly related past PYQ was found.