Question

Choose the word that is opposite in meaning to the given word:
Detrimental
a. Hurtful
b. Desirable
c. Profitable
d. Injurious

Answer 1

Hint: The word ‘detrimental’ refers to ‘tending to cause harm’. It is usually used as an adjective.

Complete answer:
The word ‘detrimental’ can be used in a sentence as follows:
For example, in the sentence ‘Plastic is detrimental to the environment’, the word ‘detrimental’ refers to plastic being a harmful substance to the environment.

Now, we know the meaning and usage of the given word. Let’s look at the given options:

hurtful - The word ‘hurtful’ refers to ‘causing distress or hurt'. This has a very similar meaning to the given word. It is not the required antonym. So, this is an incorrect option.
desirable - The word ‘desirable’ refers to ‘wished for as being an attractive, useful, or necessary course of action'. This has a completely different meaning to the given word. It is not the required antonym. So, this is an incorrect option.

profitable - The word ‘profitable’ refers to ‘beneficial; useful'. This has the exact opposite meaning to the given word. It is the required antonym. So, this is the correct option.

injurious - The word ‘injurious’ refers to ‘causing or likely to cause damage or harm'. This has a similar meaning to the given word, it is not the required antonym. So, this is an incorrect option.

Note: Use the elimination method to arrive at the right answer. Understand the meaning of each word, and choose the appropriate action.