Question

Choose the word that gives the antonym of the word italicized.
The luxurious hotel is a paradise for hedonists.
a. stoics
b. ascetics
c. adventurers
d. saints

Answer 1

Hint: Opposite words are words whose meanings are the complete opposite of a given word. They are also known as antonyms.

Complete answer:
Hedonists refer to people who like to seek pleasure. Such people believe that the pursuit of happiness is the most important thing in life. This word can be traced back in the English language to the beginning of the nineteenth century.
Let’s look at its usage.
Example – The hedonists gathered together to celebrate the dawn of the New Year. Here, we can see that the pleasure-seeking people gathered together to celebrate the dawn of the New Year.
Let’s examine the given meanings.
Option a ‘stoics’ means to be calm and almost without any emotion. This word is a distractor option as it isn’t the opposite of shrill. Therefore, it is an incorrect answer.
Option b ‘ascetics’ means people who abstain from the normal pleasures of life. It is opposite in meaning to shrill. Therefore, it is the correct answer.
Option c ‘adventurers’ means people who like to undertake exciting experiences. This word is a distractor option as it isn’t the opposite of shrill. Therefore, it is an incorrect answer.
Option d ‘saints’ means people who are extremely holy. This word is a distractor option as it isn’t the opposite of shrill. Therefore, it is an incorrect answer.
Option ‘b’ is the correct answer.

Note: Let us look at the problematic aspects of this question. Students may select saints as the correct option. However, saints are virtuous whereas ascetics abstain from pleasurable activities.